Equality for all New Zealanders
Top marks for Don Brash and his policies. Sure, Māori do have a place in history, but as long as we have any form of privileges for any one group, there'll always be a division and disharmony between races.
There are some Māori, very enterprising, hardworking and good living people but unfortunately, there are so many others who let them down (like some European). Overall, the Māori population is only about 15 per cent yet we are continually giving in to their demands of both property and money, when does it stop?
Surely, after nearly 200 years how can Europeans be expected to keep giving so many privileges and compensations? If they did have anything taken from them (as they put it) it has more than been compensated for by now. Is there any thought of the many advantages that we all, Māori and European, have today due to our early European settlers' hard toil, breaking our land, felling trees, building dwellings and carving out roads, etc. That's how civilisation really started.
Somehow, we never seem to show any recognition and honour of those men and women pioneers. Let's face facts and have a fair future for all, let common sense prevail. We have a beautiful country, sadly lacking in sound sense and management. One law for all! I remain, a proud New Zealander.
Ken Collingwood
Welcome Bay
Pitfalls of owning a scooter
How does ACC justify charging $323 for a 250cc scooter and between $18 and $37 for high powered cars in the vehicle regos? What a disincentive to own a scooter when I would have thought with vehicle congestion, parking restrictions, vehicle pollution, etc, the Government would be promoting low powered scooters (even electric) as they do overseas.
In my view, I do not buy into the deaths argument because it is generally the driver and not the vehicle at fault, thus ACC should be charging as to the driver/owner's history, age, etc, to be consistent.
David Holland
Papamoa