Costly ‘top-up’

How many people knew about the ‘‘relativity’’ clauses in the Treaty settlements for Nga¯ i Tahu and Tainui?

These two tribes on December 15 were given a $370 million ‘‘topup’’ of taxpayers’ money (Sunday Star Times, Jan 21) because of the stupidity of politicians when negotiating those settlements.

The same tribes were given top-ups of nearly $140 million earlier, in 2012.

These relativity payments are ongoing. Parliament can repeal this repugnant legislation. Get rid of it, quickly.

Moreover, these payments of public money were kept secret.

Only after journalists inquired did Nga¯ i Tahu tell its iwi about them.

Andrew Little is reported to have said that these top-ups were not publicly announced because the pre-Christmas timing wasn’t right.

That deceptive behaviour is intolerable. It’s a fair bet that no public announcement would have been made unless some journalists had exposed the matter.

New Zealand’s progress is being seriously impeded by the grievance industry sucking billions of taxpayer dollars into the bank accounts of relatively few Ma¯ ori, without these totally unacceptable extra hand-outs.

Come on, New Zealanders – voice your concern strongly over this matter. It’s your money being misused.

Press the government to take the necessary action now.

DEAN HALFORD Palmerston North