Colonisation costs, benefits

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

There have been numerous comments on the consequences of colonisation, mostly on the negative side. I’m wondering if we could have a balanced, polite discussion on the issue.

For example, has colonisation been wholly bad, or a mixture of good and bad? In the latter case, what do readers see as the various costs and benefits?

I’d be interested to know what readers think. I’m hoping that respondents can be polite, and where possible, support assertions with evidence.

Martin Hanson, Nelson