This settlement will resonate with many a conservationist, though, because their pantheism also ascribes a spark of divinity to created things. Just shows paganism is alive and well and supposed evolution has not eradicated religion from the human heart.
JOHN HAAKMA
Whanganui
River owns itself
D Partner opines (Letters, March 24) on the Whanganui River settlement's apparent novelties.
However, these are explained when you consider how our governments traditionally balance accepted Maori rights with the expectations and prejudices of the larger electorate.
Example: The Te Arawa Lakes Settlement Bill, publicly touted as returning these lakes to Maori ownership, overlooks that this "return" excludes the Crown stratum. In a novel twist, the "Crown stratum" is defined in the legislation's schedule, as all the actual water making up the lakes.
Example: The Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Government Bill 2010, touted as repealing the 2004 Act, effectively only replaced it with another novel twist -- a "customary marine title" that continues to abrogate claims by Maori.
It's not unusual that the Whanganui River claim was met with another novel twist, by granting the river a "legal entity" status (like, it owns itself), which cuts across all claims to ownership title by Maori.
D Partner should acknowledge this.
H. NORTON
Kaitoke
Deeds, not words
You've gotta be joking, Bill English -- your financial genius, along with your encouraging announcement that the Government books had hit the black.
My, my, our country must be in grand shape leading up to the elections.
Bill, my bank account would also be extremely healthy if I refrained from paying my mortgage, avoided as much in the way of interest payments as possible and refused to feed my family. I would be able to go on trips and actually pay my own way.
Do you really think the populace is going to swallow that tripe when there is so much pain throughout our dear country? When you have not only cut funding for health and education but social support services and housing?
The numbers of those living below the poverty line increase daily, as do our homeless.
The old adage, "Don't listen to what they say, rely on what they do", is increasingly important with election time approaching.
DENISE LOCKETT
Whanganui
GST on food
The 0.2 per cent rise in food prices to the year ending February 2017 will naturally increase the amount of GST paid to the Government. It will also increase the disproportion of GST paid by low-income families, in relation to their income, compared to higher income families.
Those discussing tax cuts do not seem to have taken unjust GST on food paid by low-income families compared to that paid by higher income families into consideration. Groceries are not an optional purchase.
We all need to eat.
Rising food prices combined with low wages and higher rents are increasing the numbers of people seeking help from the voluntary agencies such as food banks.
The Working for Families top-up seems to be a complicated and ponderous way of giving relief to low-income families, especially now, when so many workers work different hours week to week. Removing GST from groceries is an obvious solution.
GST-free groceries is standard practice in many countries, including Canada, Australia, the UK and others. There is no reason why a New Zealand version could not be implemented.
This is an important issue, which needs to be discussed with all political parties, candidates, community organisations and individuals leading up to the September election.
ROSEMARY MICHIE
Rotorua
