I suggested Maori were better off now than prior to 1800. I was speaking of 1760, not 1860. In that time Maori did not have any of the things mentioned by Wairangi except flax and fishing. Neither of these did they have as commercial entities. The Europeans brought vegetables, beef, pork and mutton, eggs apples and cheese, and wheat which enabled enterprising Maori to have orchids, market gardens, and a thriving flour mill, built with European technology and of course someone to sell all this to. Tourism of course depends on a European market.
Unfortunately, the Europeans also brought measles, gorse, blackberry rabbits and the churches. Most of the land grab was done by the churches. Prior to European settlement the means of acquiring land was to wage a battle against the occupying hapu and kill them all off, thereby gaining ownership.
Ordinary emigrants who came here, having been dispossessed in Europe and had absolutely nothing, only wanted a plot to build a home and a life on.
The thought I was trying to get across was count your blessings, not your losses and work to improve your life. Say thank you for what you have achieved, not cry for more to be handed out. Maori who are entrepreneurial and energetic are doing very well, the same as they were in 1860. There are always those who do nothing and cry to be carried.
MARIE BOOTH
Rotorua
