Paul Jamieson

I would like to provide Albie Hulse with an answer to his question, which is quite simple really.

Māori are entitled to "special treatment" because of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori rights as the original kaitiaki/custodians of Aotearoa.

This makes Māori (and Pākehā through the partnership promised in Te Tiriti) different from other ethnic groups living in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The argument that "we are all New Zealanders" is one quite commonly used when discussing racial issues.

This argument is fundamentally flawed in that it completely disregards the privilege that a dominant group (i.e. Pākehā in this country) enjoys.

This privilege has been shown countless times across history/geography and is illustrated in our country by a myriad of statistics (health, life expectancy, education, employment etc)

To disregard this privilege and state that we are all the same is just plain wrong.  And this privilege is also the reason why we need legislation to protect the rights of minorities.

This isn't just limited to Māori, but also incorporates women, children, people with disabilities and our environment to name a few.

For all those out there who are undecided on the issue of Māori wards, just ask yourself one question: what would your view be if the shoe was on the other foot and I was in the minority?