Has anyone actually read the history books about the settlement of New Zealand?

The British did not go into NZ slaughtering all Maori who did not consent to European immigration. The Maori were taken advantage of in the aquisition of land and resources, then there was the war between the Maori and European settlers, but the British were quick to realise that the Maori were a strong fighting force, especially in their entrenched pa defences which left many British soldiers dead and Maori unscathed. A Treaty was made between the two parties, not a surrender from the Maori.

The Maori were a tough warrior people who regularly fought (and ate) each other. Disease probably killed more Maori, as it did in America and Australia when Europeans settled there. The treatment of these people was a lot worse than that of the Maori.

Maoris in NZ are generally poorer, more likely just to have basic education, and to be unemployed. A high percentage of prison inmates are Maori and they are more likely to be smokers, diabetics and obese. Maori culture is enthusiastically promoted here in NZ, but has degenerated to an imported 'black culture' attitude with a minority of Maori. Nevertheless more Maori do succeed to better lives (economically) and this is increasing with incentives and special programmes for them to go to university or retraining. Schools with a high percentage of Maori are usually the lower decile ones, and attract more government money than others - but the 'culture' in these schools or the kids' homes, means the kids are usually not interested in further education. I have a friend who works in one of these schools and she says the kids go to work in supermarkets, McDonalds etc. after school and weekends then cannot do their homework. They are pushed out to work by their parents or aim themselves to buy a car as soon as they can drive at 15. The Maori kids who usually do best are those at a school with a high percentage of European kids.

The Maoris have a right by law to claim for a lot of things, which is absolutely right, but many do laugh at the stupid claims that some do try for. There is a tendency here for the more uneducated Maori to think, for example, if a large percentage of white NZers have computers and mobile phones then it is the right of Maoris to have those too as they were here first. 'Aotearoa belongs to the Maori' these idiots would shout, yet be absolutely indignant if every European disappeared from the country taking their civilisation with them!

The Maori are a great people - my friend at school was Maori. Their culture is an integral part of New Zealand and inter-racial relationships common. I would not be surprised if one day most of the population of NZ had some Maori blood in them, or that one day English may become the country's second language. I would assert that many believe their lot is probably better from British settlement other than another country, as it was inevitable the country would be settled by some nation.

Said too much.

;)