NZ Centre for Political Research

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe corporate iwi are failing their own people?

*Not only are they failing their people, they're setting a very bad example, & conning the tax-payer to boot! Dave

*My comments on this appalling situation are unprintable! The fat - physically fat! corporate iwi should be held to account in no uncertain terms....I am sick and tired of their blatant racism and the lack of morality as regards their 'peoples'. Lorraine

*All labour MP's should have to own a business that employs staff. Rod

*Iwi are treating the NZ taxpayer & their own youth with contempt and I am outraged they do not pay tax on their profits and they are constantly claiming victimisation. These facts need to be dealt with by mainstream media so the public are informed of the low cunning and fraud going on by corporate iwi. Monica

*The whole Claims process is a huge and expensive gravy-train for the powerful and elite in Maori tribes. I'm sure there are also a large number of non-Maori (lawyers, consultants, etc) who also make huge amounts of money from this - at the taxpayers' expense.

However, isn't this the same abuse of power that exists in almost every society - those in power feather their own nests at the expense of others.

And, it's not just the political hierarchy that does this. The same problems occur within corporations and probably within gangs or with the various illegal industries (eg. drugs).

The problem within NZ is that the Government actively supports and encourages Maori to do this. The media also turn a blind eye to it, and a large section of the population are stupid enough to believe it's OK - it can't be apartheid because we are not in South Africa.

Never underestimate the stupidity and gullibility of the general public. Gary

*I often suspected this lack of care for unemployed, under privileged Maori and in fact any New Zealander by Corp Iwi - An inquiry into the running of these corporates and the positive deeds they are doing for their own people and an amendment of tax laws would not go amiss! Linda

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe corporate iwi are failing their own people?

* Politicians and others in poitions of power have appeared to lose sight of the amounts of money given to maori and that they should be answerable to their people as to how billions are spent. Reverse racism is become endemic and that is very sad. I'm a 5th genreation New Zealander brought up on a farm with much interaction between both races. There was no differentiation between "them and us" and much respect given on both sides. Sadly, this appears to be no longer the case. Marilyn

*They get all the money without filtering it down to those who really need it. Shameful really! Craig

*You never hear of any schemes for Maori by these Maori Corporations. Terry

*Why is it that the Maori's based in Australia are doing better than Maori people in New Zealand? We need to stop Môn coddling and help young New Zealanders to build back up our economy in these trying times. Maori people are an asset to New Zealand bringing much indigenous value. Let start viewing it that way and get a return off our assets. After completing two degrees in Commerce and Science, with couple of years experience in start up organisations, I have myself migrated to Australia Melbourne due to the work opportunities. However, if NZ offered new entreprenurail opportunities with good government incentives, I would be more than happy to migrate back and contribute to improving the economy (exports in particular). Sarah

*I get very annoyed when Maori cry poor while the Maori elite laugh all the way to the bank. Sally

*They are a disgrace to their own people. Any settlements should have conditions whereby the assets are forced to be shared with all iwi. Peter

*In a scandalously corrupt and hypocritical way. So expected from those with a bare minimum of maori blood to qualify for this taxpayer funded fraud. Gordon

*Maori are teaching their young that it is easier to cadge money from the Government than to work for it. The money that has been obtained by unjustified claims is not being distributed evenly among all Maori. Peter

*The only exception would be the South Island tribe who have been quite successful. The problem iwi seem to be in the north. Charles

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe corporate iwi are failing their own people?

*Politicians never seem to learn from other countries mistakes sadly. I was in Papua New Guinea quite a number of years ago and saw the waste resulting from NZ Forest Service spending millions of NZ$, trying to develop commercial forests. They succeeded in growing the trees, no problem. But the control over the income was given to the tribal leaders.They did what most tribal leaders in poorly developed countries do. Took and spent the money themselves, no trickle down effect. See Zimbabwe, Nigeria etc! The result, the young men who worked for a pittance burnt the forests down over time, so no-one benefited. Samoa, I believe a similar experience with their forestry program too, but happy to be corrected. Hugh

*There are many ways that Maori could train up and provide the jobs that young Maori people desperately need. John

*Will the politicians ever learn that the only way to help ALL Maori is to stop giving money to the chiefs and educate/train them in the same way as the rest of our population. Ernest

*There is no such thing as "Maoridom" - only tribalism. Alwyn

*Corporate Maori are utterly disinterested in the needs of their own people. Doug

*You are right when you say most NZ'ers think the multi millions given to iwi is trickling down to help Maori familes and youth. This scandal in the fisheries needs to be broadcast far and wide throughout the country. From all the information being revealed now I wonder how much better off this country would be if all money given to Maori stopped - right now! I was out at the Auckland Airport recently and was shocked to see a new multi storey hotel on the doorstep to the arrivals and departures areas,complete with a large plate showing it is owned by Maori. This is the worst kind of arrogance when so many Maori needing help have to turn to Winz to get it. This is despicable to say the least. Cecil

*Iwi are not for the KIWI. Neil

*This is the most appalling abuse of taxpayers money. Corporate iwi need to be held accountable but will any politician be brave enough coming up to an election - sadly I don't think so! Andrea

*Hard to understand how they get all this free money (which they're not entitled to) yet still moan on about Maoris being hard-done-by. Pathetic. Josie

*Get rid of Maori electorates. One person one vote. Clyde

*The corporate Iwi is not the guilty one here it is the vote hungry politicians who will sell there souls to stay in power while on the other hand it is the base of Maori culture to always want what other people have. One could carry on like this all day,but getting back to the politicians again they are not going to be happy until we have a situation like they have in the middle east.If I was 60 yrs younger I would be an Aussie for sure and yes I am Tainui 10 children all working 25 g/children and 9 great g/children not one of us has seen a cent although we did apply for grant to help with Uni exes which originally was one of maori main gripes to educate our whanau,What crap they look after the elite and thier whanau ONLY. Gordon

*Why aren't the $$$ that Maori get from treaty and other settlements brought to the medias' for front so they can be challengd. Pita Sharples comments are astonishing and as tax payer I resent these additional tax benefits Maori get for being Maori. Gary

*The iwi hierarchy are rolling in clover, while the NZ taxpayers are bled dry to look after the rest of the tribe. Leonee

*Politicians must Listen. Jim

*It is the greedy few at the top of moaridom that are the very people telling their tribes that they are victims of our NZ system. Daryl

*Yes because of greed. I also wish to make a comment on a subject which I know has nothing to do with the topic under discussion. It involves Christchurch, which is very topical and urgent, and E.T.S.
Almost all carbon emissions are produced by nature from volcanoes, forest fires etc. Very little is produced by humans in comparison. The amount of emissions SAVED by E.T.S. compared to that emitted by nature would be so tiny that it possibly could not be measured. It would have to be less than one millionth of one percent. In other words E.T.S. cannot be more useless. A good comparrison would be using a bucket to stop the tide coming in. Both are equally futile.
The Govt. is now collecting a reputed billion dollars a year from this useless scheme. Instead of it being wasted on who knows what, (e.g. lining the pockets of carbon credit sellers)it could be put to a very good use like the rebuilding of Christchurch. This would mean that the Govt. would need to borrow little if any for this purpose and that must surely be a help tp our economy. When the rebuilding is completed the Govt. could then make history by cancelling a tax because its purpose has been accomplished. This too would help the economy by putting more money in taxpayers pockets.
p.s. I wonder how many centuries will it take for E.T.S. to compensate for the carbon emissions coming from the new Chile volcano. Ray

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe corporate iwi are failing their own people?

*Anyone with any forsite new Corporate IWI would milk this as hard as they could. The greedy few will benefit and the rest will just go back to the government for more handouts. I despair for the future of this country. As for youth unemployment I have been an employer all of my life and nothing beats the smile of a young Boy or Girl on their first day at work. There real lifes journey is about to begin and they are only interested in their job. More money comes later when they have upskilled. My own Grandson is being underpaid but he wont let me contact his boss as he says Grandi I am lucky to have a job. I will get through my apprenticeship then go elsewhere if my boss has not increased my wages. Prophetic from a 18 year old. Albyn

*The money for Treaty setlements should cease immediately. Maori have been more than compensated. Les

*But not all of them. Why not hold the good guys up as examples - and expose the ones you write about? John

*Most definitely. They are obviously failing their own people and lining their own pockets. I find it incredible that they would employ foreign workers when their own people are so in need of the jobs. What a waste of taxpayer funding. Time these so called "settlements" were stopped. Dorothy

*Thinks - if the Maori elite would employ their underclass in making fancy underpants for their superiors it'd be a good introduction to the work-force for them. But fishing (except for paua-poaching of course) is too much like real work for warriors. Ron

*Maori have long had a history of keeping things amongst the Elite. It's good to see that they at least are maintaining the standards. Maurice

*Absolutely, they are just a pack of thieves. Donald

*Most definitely, and the general public/taxpayer are not aware of what is going on behind the scenes. Fraser

*As an individual it seems to me that yes they are failing me, but as one of many I can see that they are doing excessinly well, new scools, health, sports to name a few. So I say now that I to am benefiting, even if I see it as beening little.
Rawiri

*I have for some time wondered where the money from Treaty settlements was going. And am not surprised. Primrose

*Not all Iwi are failing. Many are. Richard

*The whole thing is scandalous. Sue

*The ordinary Maori never see the results of the numerous claims that have been paid -failure to do so results in Maori continually blaming non-Maori for their predicament ,when in fact it is the result of greedy top cats in Maoridom failing to distribute the wealth. It is time the claim gravy boat was stopped! It is a disgrace perpetuated to a greater degree by this present government! this will be the reason I will not vote for National at the next election, I am sick of this apartheid society where we the non-Maori are being bled dry! James

*Part of the cause is the rise of young radicals who have a greater influence at hui and marae gatherings than the older Kaumatua. Their spin tends to be backed by emotive language, technology, and appeals. Corporate iwi are only interested in feathering their own pockets, although they make promises that sound good to iwi, but in many cases don't deliver. Wayne

*Corporate Iwi don't see Maori youth unemployment as any of their concern. It is a Govt problem. Ian

*It's very clear that iwi elites are getting richer and their people are not benefiting at all. Ronmac

*Tribalism and Socialism are condemning these people to a life of poverty.
All recent Governments have compounded this blight on the nation.
The theft of fishery resources from genuine fishermen and the gift of those stolen resources to Iwi. Who then engage Foreign fishing companies to do the work.
Government intervention in the labour market will ensure welfare dependence. N.Z. will never progress as a nation until we throw off the shackles of Socialism, Tribalism and Racism. Michael

*Read a copy of Lee Kuan Yew's new book "Hard Truths" Also Byran Caplan's 'Selfish reasons to have more kids'
Maoris problem is genetic! But who apart from 88 year old Mr. Lee is brave enough to say that? Rob

*This is an absolute understatement. When are the tax paying public of New Zealand going to wake up and rise up to stop this ridiculous situation. Why is this not front page news or has the government put the pressure on newspapers, radio and TV channels not to publish. David

*Based on what I have read in your article. Geoff

*Absolutely. Its all about taking and not passing on the benefits to those that need it most. Nigel

*Once thieves always thieves. Christopher

*It's about time government had the balls to tell maori they have had their lot and stop sucking up to them. John

*This has been going on for ages - the Maori elite in effect rip off the majority. Barry

*The sooner the mother state wrenches them from her breast the better for everyone. Aaron

*Error! It is true Maori own 37% of fishing quota but the Waitangi Tribunal awarded only 20%. Tax free profits have been used to purchase the extra 17% business opportunity, instead of sharing with iwi. George

*And they were before treaty claims were invented. Grahame

*This needs more publicity. Royce

*WHY CAN THE MAORI COMPANIES PAY LESS TAX THEN ME, THIS IS A DISGRACE. ALL COMPANIES SHOULD TAKE THIS UP WITH THERE LOCAL MP'S. Geoff

*Why did the government think things would change giving IWI big bucks to bring them into the 20th century from when the sum total of their contibutions to date.... has been Hone/Titifarse Harawera, Bishop "Cash" Tamaki and a Tanimonster needing more public cash for its appeasment. Give me (and CYPS)a break! Would it be racist, considering the Maori need a separate roll, to suggest they now through their Treaty Claims pay-outs, pay the benefits claimed by THEIR people, as they continue claiming to be part of a much maligned and disenfranchised minority? I for one will vote for them if they decide to take the reins and charge Maoridom through its own "self sustanablity of the real pressing issues" this election. Except I can't as I am not a Maori. I am of caucasian descent. But the how many Maori are of pure lineage? Oooh yes, silly me.....the Haraweras! Derek

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe corporate iwi are failing their own people?

*Yes. Corporate iwi should be funding education and anti smoking campaigns. Kerry

*A most revealing article! - and what the EMA person says is absolutely correect. A higher minimum wage would mean less school leavers getting employment. Ted

*Also please refer to an article in the Waikatio Times which researched the commercial arm of Tainui Holdings Ltd. Reported profits over last 3 years of close to $300m, no tax paid, and $20m paid to Iwi members. This commercial entity which is the biggest property developer in the Waikato, is a registered charity. This is scandalous! Chris

*It's a fact and no one can argue that but where does the profits go? Dawson

*Yes we have to keep all New Zealanders employed by adding value to products and services here in this country. Bruce

*Another example of the Tax payers getting ripped off by the Maori. Ian

*Stop the money handouts right now. Gary

*It looks like the "iwi" is out for all it can get, thay might have to get bigger pockets, grab, steal, and take attitude. Lawrence

*This current article revealing the truth about corporate iwi should be printed in every newspaper throughout the country. Most New Zealanders are not informed about this disgraceful revelation of the amount of taxpayer's money that has been handed to iwi, and what they have failed to do with it, to help their own people as was intended. All governments have been negligent in failing to direct how the money was to be used. A condition of all settlements to iwi should be that they employ ONLY NEW ZEALANDERS in industry or ventures created from taxpayer money. This is just another example of the appalling mis-management of New Zealand. No wonder we are in SO MUCH trouble! Jean

*Of coarse they are anyone with the slightest amount of common sense can see that. Clark

*It is about time that a Maori was defined as one with more than 50% Maori lineage. Jim

*Should be accountable for spending treaty claims monies. Jack

*They are not only failing, the iwi are committing fraud, unadulterated fraud. It is a crime for them to employ foreign crew and to pay them a pittance. For Mr Sharples to say the men don't want to be away from their whanau: would that not also apply to pakeha fishers? SHAME SHAME SHAME!!!! Eneka

*Not only the school-leavers. Why are they not stopping child abusers? Why are they not looking after unwanted babies? Mary

*Money to politicians and Maori is easy come easy go. Now to have Maori as a compulsory subject and Anne Tolley is happy with that, both she and Sharples need their heads read, New Zealanders can't speak english properly at that rate all New Zealander will be walking around, unemployed, covered in graffiti, can't speak properly, bullying, stamping their feet slapping their thighs and poking their tongues out, while those of any sense moved overseas and I can live with that PM key ramberling desultory around the country like some so called super star. Bill

*It is sad to travel through areas with a large Maori population to see how the business section and even the housing is unkempt and shops boarded up. One would think that the Maori leaders could come up with ideas to give employment to their youth. There is a great demand for timber - why not the planting of new forests etc. George

*This has been happening for far too long. When are we going to forget about all these so called Maori and think about being New Zealanders? Elsie

*Iwi Corporations do pay dividends to shareholders but this is not helping Maori unemployed and the should be doing more. Michael

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe corporate iwi are failing their own people?

*Thanks for raising this issue. Haami Pipiri's comments included predictable blame being cast on "colonialism". When is this issue going to addressed in public? Colin

*This is costing the tax payer billions of dollars. What are Maori doing with it - feathering their own nests! This is likened to when developed country's send aid to 3rd world country's and only a small percentage of the aid gets to the people in need - corrupt officials take either most or kickbacks to allow the aid through. Confucious said: Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Give him the tools to fish and he will eat forever. Why is the government handing out good money after bad? Fifth Estate

*It is an unbelievable scandal--why is National buying into this??? Colleen

*It is a bloody disgrace and time the average kiwi woke up to just what is going on. Keep up the good work. Peter

*Yes and buying more expensive underpants. Ian

*Most Maori that I speak to disagree with the ongoing land claims and just want to get on with being NZers. I believe there are no full blooded Maori left in NZ, I am a 4th generation NZer, and we should all be equal. Sandra

*Isn't what the corporate iwi doing akin to what happens in the Pacific Islands where the chiefs get rich and their people poorer. The only exception is Fiji where in actual fact the people there (both Fijian and Fijian Indian) love what he is doing for their country and he has set up offices where any corruption or price fixing can be reported. They now have free, compulsory education and a new university in Suva. Rosemary

*Sadly, there is little accountability in Maoridom for the distribution of their wealth. Nicely and concisely written article which should be more publically aired. Go Muriel! Mark

*If Maori are unemployed it is because they have been brought up as Maori. John

*Thats why they were given the quota in the first place so they can provide work for there own people. But you can't expect anything different from a tribal society. Nigel

*An absolute scandal, more exposure urgently needed. Beryl

*It is fascinating to learn that Maori corporates and Maori leaders in general believe that remedying Maori unemployment, poverty, ill health is entirely the responsibility of the New Zealand tax payer and that no matter how much money is handed over to Maoridom it will not be used to better the lot of their low socio-economic members. Jennifer

*You cant help those that wont help themselves. F

*The trickle down stays at the top! Ron

*Maori elite have turned their grievance industry into the 'greed' industry!! Tony

*It seems to me that corporate iwi are only interested in their own personal wealth. Reminds me of the Indian caste system, they obviously feel that the concessions they have wrung out of government, are for their benefit, not maoridom as a whole. Vic

*But as long as we have racist seats in parliament with all the major parties saying they will be kept as long as the part-maoris wish, the problem will remain. John

*Definitely. It's time it was stopped forever. Ian

*Little will change until we get a Government with some intestinal fortitude. Ian

*I am appalled at the amount of money that has gone to maori, and has not been used to help their young people to work..I am behind the times..I thought the money went to create jobs..education. etc. Jane

*In a big way. Paul

*They are running with the rabits and hunting with the hounds. Need to be held responsible for their actions. Peter

*More public knowledge of this is needed now. Maori political power is escalating while we try to help the "poor Maori". James

*Iwi have received scandalous amounts of money courtesy of successive governments and long suffering tax payers. Catherine

*There is a disonnect between the Maori leaders and the so called beneficiaries of the treaty settlements. John

*Most definately, while they suck them dry they become fat cats themselves. Arthur

*I'm sick of the greedy entitlement mentality that goes with it. Tracy

*A Total Disaster. Colin

*Why would the maori elite spend their tax payer funds when they can keep their own people poor and then plead their case to the government for even more tax payer funds. Hells bells maori are the biggest moaners and scroungers in the world bar none. They will never stop their ridiculous demand while we have sycophants like John Key kissing their proverbial bums. Bill

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe corporate iwi are failing their own people?

*It seems to be a them or us attitude now rather than us New Zealanders as it was when I was at school. Murray

*Yes and they have been doing so for years, it is a disgrace. Robert

*Disgusting, disgraceful, depressing and driven by greed. Gayel

*Treaty money has not been trickling down to help the unemployed and it appears those at the top are pocketing it for themselves. Straker

*They appear to be, however the only information I have with which to form this opinion is presented in the media and on the streets and malls. Not a pretty or dignified result. Dave

*It is just another cunning and dishonest Maori version of double dipping we have come to expect. They will cause the ruination of New Zealand. Kenneth

*Absolutely YES!

The same is the case in every society where those feeling to have been disadvantaged are then given a helping hand. The elite get greedy at the expense of their own people.

My home country of South Africa is a prime example. Over 20yr after the abolition of white-on-black apartheid they are now worse off under a government run by their own kind. They still blame the past. Rather than having fixed the wrongs they amplify them, blaming all their failures (even current) on the past. Instead of getting their elbows into building their future they still expect handouts .... guess from whom ... the whites who they claim made them poor. But their own government has made them poorer and blames the past for it.

They will never rise from their own morass if they don't look to the benefit of the whole and not just their own elitist pockets.

I see a striking parallel with the Maori issues in NZ.

Give them a helping hand and they want more. A "gimme more, you owe it" attitude. Rather than the past is gone, let us all build the future together as one whole nation for the betterment of all. Walter

*I had it said to me by a maori a while back "you people heve your round table, we have our brown table". Bob

*What is the standard of the processing plant in China? I shudder to think after all we hear about substandard, unhygience conditions????? Lois

*Due to the fact that the distribution of these vast sums of money does not appear to be reported to the people, let alone not disbursed is a total fraud. This is also creating a lot of animosity between Maori and Pakeha ie those who work and pay the taxes to for these so called benefits and claims by IWI It is becoming very frightening. Neville

*So what are they doing with all the profits? Sonia

*They certainly are failing their people this is shown in the way they have such a huge percentage of Maori on the benefit, in prison and who abuse life in general both their children and each other...what a disaster..and the sad thing is with the greed grab and no respect fo life...they never will. Audrey

This week's poll asks: Do you believe corporate iwi are failing their own people?

*Firstly, I am a Maori, but most importantly, I am an individual. The problem with Maori & the world as a whole is that it has not evolved fast enough away from Tribalism (Nationalism, Collectivism etc.) toward Individualism. As long as there is Collectivism, then there will be atrocities perpetrated on individuals by the group in the name of "the common good". The world (including Maori) needs to hold the individual (as the smallest minority) as the most sacrosanct of beings through laws & systems that protect individual rights. Chris

*The whole Treaty settlement process is a scandal - it's all about the rich and powerful Maori elite getting richer and more powerful as a result of a series of massive con jobs on the taxpayer. It's the politicians who are complicit in all of this. Dave

It's time a proper inquiry was held into all this treaty settlement stuff. It's the biggest con job of all time. James

Unfortunately as far as disadvantaged Maori are concerned they have been brainwashed to believe that non-Maori are the bad guys, when the real bad guys are their tribal leaders! Sue

Tribal leaders and their hangers-on are all talk when it comes to caring fro the rank and file. Ordinary folk don't rate except superficially. In other words, they don't care a toss! Jim

*Sending fish to be processed overseas should be banned. As should foreign fishing boats. And iwi leaders should be required to share the proceeds with their tribes - and that means all of them! Julian