Well, Tottefan opened a can of worms here! White people, of any origin, have consistently claimed superiority over others with a different colour skin. Like Welshgirl, I too am not proud to be British, I wouldn't be in the least bit keen to swear my allegiance to queen and country. The situation in NZ is no different to anywhere else in the world where the indigenous people have been marginalised and shafted of their wealth, their land, their culture and usually because us arrogant 'civilised' and greedy whites assume we know what's right for everyone else.

We can't go back and undo what was done then and even if we could maybe we shouldn't. I'm not condoning it in anyway but I'm a strong believer in everything happening for a reason. What we can do, as individuals, is try to ground our lives in equality, teach our children to see people and characters not colour, to recognise the opportunity to enrich our lives through engaging with others whose lives are different to our own, to listen before condemning and to respect difference as an individual right and not something to be feared.

The only compensation that is needed is the desire to work with committment towards equality, not just talk the talk but to walk the walk. Money can be given, money can be spent, money has no lasting legacy, the good times it brings are soon forgotten when pockets are empty. Then the animosity returns. Money and greed are an integral part of racial hatred, a 'pay off' is like a slap in the face, money has no integrity. People should have though and surely what is more important is that we offer understanding and our promise that whilst we're here we will live every day with an open mind and an open heart.

Change has to come freely through education and realisation, it can't be ordered or imposed, that kind of change never works it just incites more anger and more animosity.

We all have a part to play and we must all take responsibility for it. It's everyones problem and within us all is the solution.