"Don't get me Started"

[Sara]

Don’t get me Started
I heard on the TV News last night that Maori want the rights to the air.
Is this the air immediately above NZ or is it the air that surrounds the earth OR that particular piece of air they happen to be standing in at the time. Wind comes from the weather systems. Are they going to claim the weather as well?

Now going back. Europeans have been in this country a couple of hundred years. When they arrived they had been civilised for some time. Maori were only too keen to sell their land for the going purchase rate at the time, which might have been some guns and blankets. Remember!, that was the going purchase price at the time. Now we have come a long way as far as technology, eating habits, drinking habits, retail shopping, housing, education, medicine and language are concerned.  Also included in that is our welfare system. The cost of these privileges is rising and will continue to do so. From the European way of life over the last hundred years, the Maori have taken what they want from it and are doing very well. We are not supposed to be separate nations, but we are. 

I sold a beautiful wee car in the 1960’s. I got very little for it, probably a couple of hundred pounds. It has increased in value and as a vintage vehicle most desirable. If I can trace the now legal owner, can I challenge them to pay me the value of the car today over and above what I have already paid?  I bet I am not allowed to. AND quite right too.

“The Treaty” was compiled and signed by both parties to the value of the times. How come that Maori can now challenge and expect to receive the innovations of today as their right and the rights to water and air. Ownership means you have bought and paid for your right to that object. 
Surely no-one can claim the right to water or air. You cannot get these things gift wrapped!
Just to confuse the issue!! Because we now might have to pay for the water we use and the air that we breath to Maori, can we not charge extra to Maori that benefit from an idea or invention, or education or medicine as, surely we have the rights to the things that were not here at the signing or have since been accepted as coming from European brains or way of life.

It is about time that we have a nationwide survey just to see how many full blooded Maori are still around.  None I would imagine. Then let’s see how much Maori blood is the average. I feel that if the European blood is more that ¾, then you are European and have no rights or claim on the “Treaty”.
If Maori insist that it is all too hard and they will not agree, we should still have the survey and pay them pro rata. For example; ½ Maori = ½ the benefit. They can get the other half off their own people.  There are many that can afford to keep others in the manner they are accustomed to. The Money from the “Treaty’ settlements seems not to go to the one’s that really need it, but stays with those at the top, who continue to want more.

We have many races in our country, many of which still hold dear their language and culture. They do not have the right to schools paid for by the NZ Government to keep their culture alive. So, how come Maori are asking for Te Reo to be made compulsory in our schools? I do not expect to have my cultural language to be made compulsory. Our new citizen’s speak their language in their homes and amongst friends. Is this not the way? Just because Maori chose not to speak their language making it a lost cause in the Whanau, why should European’s be held responsible for that mistake?

Honi Harawera is outspoken and is there in Parliament calling his Maori Whanau “Nixxxxs”.
How about that for trying to see to the welfare of all Maori. The old custom of battle and slaughter within Maori is not that far from the surface so it seems. Except it is done within parliamentary privaledge.

I, myself, do not agree with what is being allowed to happen in my country, both by Government and Maori and I say “My Country” as I am 7th generation New Zealander. If it were not for the European’s, the Maori may have killed each other off by now or surrendered to the Japanese.
I think the survey is the way to go. Science cannot be disputed. Pro Rata payments and a share only of all assets the same as for the rest of us. If they want more then get them off their chairs to contribute in work related aspects for the benefit of all New Zealander’s. Dame Phina Cooper has already told Maori to do that. Now she is one Maori Lady that I really admire.
Mrs.Harawere “senior” told all white NZ’s to go back where they came from.  (Of course, we would take all our knowledge and inventions with us.) If we did, where would that leave them. Still in huts.
Rights to the air, how pathetically stupid.  Just about as fair as the “Fart Tax” and that didn't come to fruition.

Anyway, that’s my opinion.

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[Rwood]

I don't want to get involved in the main point here (others on various media outlets are welcome to do so), but will point out that methane levels are a matter of genuine concern - although it's likely that melting Arctic ice will release vastly more quantities of it than the local dairy herds.

[Sara]

Thank you for your reply. However, what has puzzled me is how they were going to measure the methane to be able to charge for it. Am I right in thinking it will be proportioned per head or per head.

[Rwood]

I don't know anything about the proposed charging systems, I was merely pointing out the broad issue.

I have a general opinion about the original topic, relating to the widespread incidence of lobby groups in national policy-making in most developed societies - the USA probably being the most extreme case.

[Sara]

Thank you Rupert. Appreciate your comments.