Maori summit

Press, 8 November 1984, Page 20

Maori summit

Sir,—l was heartened to read the recent leading article on the hui taumata and Maoridom in general; primarily because it is rare to see printed a frank and reasoned interpretation of the Maori situation, free of emotionalism, and second, because I believe the views expressed are those espoused by a very large number of New Zealanders who tend not to express themselves publicly. Racial harmony can only exist in the presence of moderation, co-operation, a rational and balanced approach to the subject, together with the central idea that essentially we are all New Zealanders rather than members of a specific racial, religious or ethnic group. Notions of separate development coupled with bitterness and obsession with past wrongs, whether substantiated or not, are contrary to such harmony.—Yours, etc ■’ W. R. MITCHELL. November 5, 1984. Sir,—l write from the mountains of Aotearoa, this beautiful land of the Maori people, which has been dominated by the racist culture of Europeans for 145 years. I grieve with this land as I reflect on yjjur leading article of November 3

for the arrogance of an implication that success for Maori people means integration into the foreign system white people have imposed on them; for the gross insult to the Maori language in its unashamedly racist statements to the effect that Maori people should learn English, without any requirement for white people in this country to learn Maori; for its self-righteous blindness to the sources of Maori social ills; for its whole overt tone of white superiority. New Zealand does not owe its Maori people anything less than the return to them of their rightful sovereignty over this land of Aotearoa. — Yours, etc., JOAN WILSON. November 5, 1984.