A C Campbell

I would very much like to challenge Judy Turner’s (Beacon letters, September 5) perspective, Please vote yes, on the Māori ward debate.

This challenge comes with excerpts of comments by Morehu McDonald on Radio NZ; Te Ao Māori/Local Democracy 11.26am, Sept 17, 2022 in a panel discussion in Ngamotu and, secondly, the Māori Queen’s Vision for the future.

Morehu McDonald led the panel discussion in Ngamotu, stating that Nga Tamatoa had a focus on central government, “a racist pakeha power political structure” in local government that needed to be dismantled.  

He went on to suggest that the focus should be on getting our people in there while we’ve got the Māori Ward Systems.

Mr McDonald further qualified this direction by adding “take on the local people that you may have grown up with as your friends, as whānau, living in the same community.  

But know they have come from a different power structure that has totally upheld the white power structure and white culture in this country.”  

Mr McDonald is no young radical, he has certainly moved past the starry-eyed Brian McDonald I knew in the late ‘60s

Te Ao Maori News this week has reported on Te Arikinui’s (Māori Queen Nga wai hono i te po) vision for the future. In her Kauhau. She says it is time to take action.

Her vision “that is one that rejects reliance on government support and instead build’s an independent Māori economic path.”

Central to this is a $30 million Kotahitanga Fund designed to provide resilience against Government decisions that unduly influence the Māori economy. The fund will be a Māori owned and controlled investment platform funded by iwi capital and co-investors.

She said the initiatives were based on the vision of her father, the late Kingi Tuheitia, “to help Māori achieve the aspirations of Tino Rangatiratanga and Mana Motuhake”. (Separatism)

The report went on to state that the Māori economy in New Zealand is rapidly growing, contributing significantly to the national economy with an asset base of approx. $126 billion and an economic contribution of around $32 billion in 2023.

Should we, in our community, be blinded by Mrs Turner’s soft pitter patter, or do we take an interest in what is really happening and how this could influence New Zealand’s future for our children.

Keith Melville (Beacon Sept 5) is 100 percent on the mark; the time warp of guilt and grievance must end.  The momentum for a separatism is growing with clear direction and structure. the Maori wards will feed this direction.