When traditions prevent common sense
A couple of weeks ago, following an unseemly bout of infantile intolerance over the use of te reo Maori at a Grey Power meeting, I… Read More »When traditions prevent common sense
Maori
Te Reo Maori need not be translated
In spite of more than 200 years of European settlement of, and presence in, New Zealand can we still hear the faint echoes of the… Read More »Te Reo Maori need not be translated
Tipping the scale with Māori seats is only patronising and divisive
Has the Tauranga City Council embarked on a new era of inclusiveness with the decision to establish a Māori Ward for the 2022 local government… Read More »Tipping the scale with Māori seats is only patronising and divisive
More korero, less shouting on preserving our history
Monuments and memories of the past have been in the news in recent weeks and on almost all occasions for all the wrong reasons. It… Read More »More korero, less shouting on preserving our history
Giant Tale maks cynical attempt to undermine NZ’s original people.
Many people will be relieved that a group of amateur explorers have given up their search for evidence of a race of eight-foot pre-Polynesian people in… Read More »Giant Tale maks cynical attempt to undermine NZ’s original people.
Waikato Maori step up to help entire region
From the first settlement of Māori claims against the Crown for breaches of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi about 20 years ago there have been… Read More »Waikato Maori step up to help entire region
A King’s endorsement fails
The Kingitanga is, by its very nature, a political organisation but should it dabble in politics or not? Earlier this year the current Maori King Tuheita made the surprising announcement to endorse specific political parties in the lead up to the NZ general election. Was it a desperate move or a mistake?
A New Zealand Constitution
Does New Zealand need a formal constitution of rights for it’s citizens? Some politicians suggest it would be a hinderance to government. Others say it would be impossible to include the rights of The Treaty of Waitangi (image courtesy of Archives New Zealand).
Water Levy Pure Common Sense
Opinion column by Tom O’Connor published by Waikato Times August 15 2017