Category: Democracy
Across the world, over many millennia, people have learned how best to live together, in a decent society where all share a common feeling of belonging to one larger community – in sovereign countries, unified and living together as equal citizens.
Maori are now seriously over-represented in local government at 21.6 percent. As a result, when Maori elected in Maori seats join forces with Maori Councillors in general seats, through the support of sympathetic Councillors pushing environmental and social justice causes - they will often have a majority. An effective tribal takeover of local government by stealth is now underway throughout the country.
People are not stupid. If they are losing trust in our political institutions ~ and they are ~ it is not because of the evil machinations of the current government ~ which might actually do something to stop the rot, although probably not enough ~ and it is not because of some sinister right wing plot. People are losing trust in our institutions because those institutions no longer deserve our trust.
With Councils showing a belligerent disregard for the Coalition Government, suggestions will not be enough to change the extremist mindset that now dominates local government. A more direct approach will be needed to get the sector back on track: trimming the bureaucracy and operations to ensure council rate increases are no greater than the rate of inflation, instigating debt repayment plans, and undoing the grip of tribal interests - would be a good start.
It has taken centuries for humanity to struggle and claw its way out of a swamp of ignorance and superstition to gain an understanding of the world, of the universe in which we live, and to use that understanding to create better lives for all. Yet, there are those who act as if they wish humanity to reverse course and return to a world of ignorance and superstition. I cannot comprehend how any rational person could honestly desire that to occur.
The division created by Maori wards is exactly why most communities have voted against them. They have exposed an ugly side of society. Once powerful tribal groups gain a foothold in Council, through their aggressive self-interest, they demand more. Most councillors simply give in to their coercion rather than subjecting themselves to bullying and intimidation.
This country needs to respect and celebrate all cultures. We need to maintain our wonderful democracy and not slide down the path to a country dominated by the interests of a single racial or ethnic group. Our vote to disestablish the Māori ward was about preserving all that is good about our freedom for all to participate in a well-functioning democracy.
The new Government has announced a timetable for implementing their Coalition promise to restore the Marine and Coastal Area Act to what Parliament had originally intended. This was in response to activist judges misinterpreting the law in such a way that Maori tribal groups would have gained control of the entire coastline out to the edge of the Territorial Sea.
The right thing to do would be to shut the door on customary title. The entire marine and coastal area should be returned to Crown ownership and managed for the benefit of all New Zealanders. That is the simple and correct solution. Unfortunately, the coalition government, and National in particular, appears to lack the testicular fortitude to do that.
Why would New Zealand, a tiny country that is already one of the cleanest and greenest in the world need to do much more? We already produce 80 percent of our electricity from renewable energy sources. We have the most efficient farmers in the world. The country is awash with trees. And we are so ‘green’ that urban development and roading covers less than one percent of our land area.
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