A way to redress the imbalance

In a non-emotive nutshell, what Don Brash (No single Ma¯ ori voice, May 9) tells us is that:

(1) Positive discrimination on racial grounds is discriminatory.

(2) Discrimination is unnecessary, because as Hobson said we are one people.

(3) As we are all equal, positive discrimination is bad and wrong.

Brash’s argument is weakest in the second premise, as it assumes what needs to be proven. Ma¯ ori leaders may have their differences, but are united in one thing: we are two peoples (tangata whenua and manuhiri) in one nation.

From an indigenous perspective, positive discrimination is one way of redressing the current imbalance in power between settlers and colonised.

As a corrective, ‘‘discriminatory’’ scholarship schemes have long been established in education circles, both here and overseas.

Brash may find such schemes unpalatable, but let’s have a fruitful debate on the pros and cons of positive discrimination, rather than the sterile tub-thumping he indulges in. Kate Frykberg (Voice of Ma¯ ori should be heard, May 11) used the term ‘‘tangata whenua’’ a great deal, which to my understanding means ‘‘people of the land’’. Are we not all ‘‘people of this land’’? Why are some more and others less?

She also stated that nonMa¯ ori have the opportunity to live here because of the Treaty, but this is factually incorrect.

I for one have the right to live here because I was born here, my parents were born here and because I am a citizen, of equal value and rights as any other Kiwi. I too am tangata whenua (a person of this land).

She talks about harmony and then promotes disharmony. She seems to be confused between wards based on area (rural wards) and race-based wards, which are not at all the same thing.

Treating people differently because of their race is the very meaning of racism. If you want a wider range of councillors to represent the community, then the councils should better fund the electoral process. Not set up a apartheid political structure, that segregates people by race.

As an old Ma¯ ori saying goes, ‘‘what are the three most important things in life? It is the people, the people, the people’’ – all of them. Harmony is a colour blind world, where everyone has the same rights. Long live freedom, brotherhood and equality. In contrast to Peter Maxwell’s experience (May 10), I was able to see on a lovely sunny day last week the benefits of the revitalisation of Lower Tory St.

As a pedestrian I was quite excited to come across it. A variety of age groups were using the steps and tables to relax and have lunch. I imagined the local cafes doing very good business, with the number of coffee drinkers using the space.

The most inspiring sight though was seeing a toddler, with mum close by, exploring the steps and then reaching up to feel the coloured circles above her. In short I saw people relaxing, eating, playing, soaking up the atmosphere like you would expect to see in any 21st century city putting people before cars.

The cars that did navigate their way down the street did so thoughtfully without any sign of impatience or animosity.

It was a shame though to see a photo in the paper of the space on a wet day when no one, unsurprisingly, was using it.

Far from a kitsch waste of money, Lower Tory St is a welldesigned people place. I urge Wellingtonians to make good use of it. Why is it that oil companies increase prices, when the refinery north of Auckland has ceased production for three weeks?

This confirms to me that there is at least a month’s supply of petrolium products in storage which would have been purchased at a lower price than the world futures price.

This being the case, how can they justify the increase?