“The Hopuhopu Housing Development will help deliver better social and community outcomes for whānau who will live, work, and build cultural identity there,” Potaka said.
The development would allow for 100 affordable rental homes in the region. The development will be made up of 57 affordable rental homes and allow the infrastructure of a further 43 homes just north of Ngāruawāhia.
“The first stage is 57 homes and that's what the money that the government is contributing,” he said, but the bigger plan is 250 homes.
Potaka justified this taxpayer generosity by saying – “Waikato has the highest number of emergency housing use, and Hamilton has the third highest number of applicants on the Housing Register of any territorial authority.”
Adding - “Solving the housing crisis is one of this Government’s top priorities. In addition to our efforts to reduce emergency housing numbers, this partnership is another example of how we are taking action with iwi to help address the housing shortage.”
Those are a small sample from the article.
I felt the article was worth sending to the 65 odd members of my mailing group.
Wow, did the responses light up my inbox!
I think the responses arise from a much broader and extensive concern from New Zealanders.
Mind you, Tuku Morgans comments in the article – “While the Government contribution is significant, Tainui’s contribution will dwarf what the crown is contributing!” And “ …it will be a space where our people feel culturally safe”- would have infuriated a number of the respondents!
So where do you think the funds for “Tainui’s contribution” initially came from Tuku? No, not from the government. From the TAXPAYER! We would be dreaming to envisage thanks or appreciation from Tuku!
And yes, through treaty settlements and in Tainui’s case much more through the very “sweetheart” relativity deals. Deals which have seen Tainui amass over $250 million in top ups since its original 1995 original $170 million settlement.
Not bad this taxpayer kindness, is it Tuku?
Waikato-Tainui is now worth approximately $2.5 billion. Ex Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley was so impressed she was moved to state - “Tainui, it's a magnificent success story.”
I commend Tainui for the work for their efforts to house tribal members but many New Zealanders would ask, why are Tainui not funding the whole project themselves!
Tainui Group Holdings Limited chairperson Hinerangi Raumati Tu'ua says - "We're worth about $2.5 billion today. That allows us to do a lot of things, in terms of economic returns, jobs, thinking about the environment, creating grants and benefits that go to iwi members."
But not all with your own funds Hinerangi?
But it is not just Tainui who are the beneficiaries of government munificence. All tribes are benefitting hugely from taxpayer handouts!
And this is, I believe, is part of maori activists long term plan. Create a “them and us” situation, “we are a race that has been abused and downtrodden, we must be recompensed.” Divide and conquer?
Are our governments unable to see that the focussing of taxpayer funding exclusively for maori is endorsing separatism, fostering two classes of citizenry and assembling maori into separate, maori-only communities .
Surely, what we should be aiming for is integration of all citizens through mixed communities, not empowering division based on race.
Back in 2023 the Office of the Auditor general carried out an audit to measure transparency for Government initiatives supporting improved outcomes for Māori. This was to provide a better understanding of results that are achieved and gain assurance that public organisations have spent the allocated funding and implemented initiatives in the way the Government intended.
The report concluded the Labour Government had made significant funding commitments for supporting improved outcomes for Māori.
In 2020 that government support amounted to more than $900 million, specifically for maori. In 2021 it was more than $1 billion allocated expressly and exclusively for maori and, again, another $1 billion in 2022!
In 2023 the New Zealand economy was tanking and we officially entered a recession.
That saw specific funding for maori decrease to $825 million!
Willie Jackson stated Labour's Māori caucus were "all satisfied" with the $825 million 'Māori Budget.'
But therein lies the preposterous nature of this maori specific funding.
Jackson had the temerity (or stupidity) to state - "You must remember this is targeted funding” Then admitted - “Our people also benefit from the overall Budget."
If that is not spitting in the eye of your benefactor, what is?
Willie might well have said - Why rob a bank when you can plunder the Treasury!
The Maori economy was adjudged by NZIER to be worth $17,000,000,000 in 2018. It is forecast to be worth $20,000,000,000 by 2030.
In 2018, Maori households received more than double in benefits, social security and assistance benefits than they paid in taxes, social security contributions, fines and penalties. Therefore, you could argue they are taking much more from society than they are giving back.
To make matters worse, tribal income is channelled through charitable trusts to avoid paying income tax.
Recently the NZ Herald’s Thomas Coughlan wrote an article regarding the government looking at closing a longstanding loophole in the tax system that allows some businesses to legitimately pay no company tax by declaring themselves charities.
Not surprisingly, there was no mention of tribal charitable trusts.
Imagine the politically expedient decisions that would be made to exclude tribal trusts!
Why do we allow governments to consign preferential treatment and funding to maori, involving billions of dollars, and in so doing, escalating racial differentiation?
Unquestionably, the time has come when we must ask -
How long do we let successive governments pander to maori activists?
How long do we let successive governments appease maori with financial handouts?
How long do we let successive governments fatten tribal leaders’ bank accounts?
How long do we let successive governments abet maori in their push for tribal rule?
How long do we let successive governments finance racial division in New Zealand?
Surely, we must put an end to governments robbing taxpayers blind to fund the dismantling of our democracy.
How much is enough? There probably never will be enough for maori activists leaders!
John Porter is a citizen, deeply concerned about the loss of democracy and the insidious promotion of separatism by our current government.
1 comment:
Well said John Porter! NZ has gone well past settlement of historic claims. We’re now stealing from tax and rate payers - i.e. fellow citizens. Use your votes wisely at the next election. The govt and council sanctioned thieving, grifting and rent seeking has to stop. It’s wrong and NZ is broke already.
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