Building bridges

I am heartened by the words of both Winston Peters and the leader of the Opposition, Simon Bridges, at Waitangi this year.

Peters recognised that ‘‘Government can only do so much’’ (for Ma¯ ori). ‘‘We have got to see in our own selves the seeds of our success – nowhere else.’’ Bridges agreed with the ‘‘clear conception of that speech [Don Brash’s 2004 Orewa speech] that we shouldn’t be doing things on the basis of race – it should be need.’’

Perhaps in coming months and years the advantages brought to all in this country by colonisation will be recognised, rather than the present perceived ills. Perhaps the words of Sir A¯ pirana Ngata may at last be fulfilled: ‘‘We are one people. He iwi tahi tatau.’’

Irene Fagan, Island Bay