D Dawson

In response to Toi Iti’s opinion, Talking peace, pragmatism, and smart-arse politicians (Beacon, Friday, April 11).

First, I would sooner trust a politician than an activist. Mr Iti clearly does not like David Seymour with his personal comments and dislike for the Treaty Principles Bill.

The Treaty Bill needs to be defined. It will become a bottom line for most New Zealanders at the next election.

Only a fool would rule out David Seymour’s bill when the Treaty is being used to divide the country instead of bringing us together.

Most of the people who joined the hikoi or car-koi were a minority group of activists.

Mr Seymour’s one-off Treaty Bill costs to the country are trivial if compared to Waitangi Tribunal costs and the previous Labour coalition Government’s consultant costs.

The “argy-bargy” comments concerning supermarket aisles is uncalled for and misguided. Talk about “white-outs” and “misleading narratives” is not being constructive.

Mr Iti’s mother sounds like a very wise lady, full of wisdom. Unfortunately, there is a small group of Māori activists, mostly Te Pati Māori activists, who will never be happy with being treated equally in New Zealand until they have been given a Treaty payment.

No one is stopping Māori being Māori, as long as they obey the law. One people, one law, one Government. Just like Māori have assimilated with the earlier indigenous peoples of New Zealand, they have also assimilated with Europeans.

This is why we are now one people of mixed cultures called New Zealanders. Many Māori have moved to Australia and without iwi and hapū support, have assimilated and prospered without the Waitangi Tribunal or Māori wards.

Māori blame all their problems on the colonists when they were once the colonists. You say, meaning Māori, “it is in our collective best interests to sit down and engage courageously with respectful, thoughtful, considered dialogue”.

It would be good if that was true considering Māori were very disrespectful to anyone wanting to discuss the Treaty Bill.

I look forward to a future referendum when all New Zealanders can vote to define the Treaty, not the Waitangi Tribunal.