NZ Centre for Political Research

This week's poll asks:

Should Maori be given ownership rights to New Zealand’s fresh water resource?

*Stop moaning and give the whinging bludgers EVERYTHING. Yeah, right! Rob

*This issue should not even be an issue, but be laughed at for a second as a silly joke. I find it hard to believe how stupid National is, thinking that laying down for the greedy iwi will get them votes. This certainly won't get my vote. In fact I might vote with my feet and leave NZ like so many others. Sheila

*How much more is this National Govt going to give away to Maori? Geoff

*No way, they have had enough already. Murray

*Definitely not. Like the seabed and foreshore water resources belong to the nation. Philip

*When are they intending to claim the Moon? Forbes

*No NO NO. When is all this coming to an end? And we just continue to pay pay pay. Governments must learn to be brave and say enough is enough, your bubble has burst, we are moving on to a new future where everyone can enjoy all financial benefits. Gary

*Fresh water should not be owned by anyone single person,group or corporation but should be for all NZers now and in the future. Robin

*The National govt. needs to make a stand regarding Marori claims. Desmond

*These demands will never end. Lets stop now. Barry

*An absolute and totally ridiculous claim. Ground water in NZ comes from rainfall, which is generated world-wide by evaporation of seas, oceans, lakes and streams. For Maori to claim fresh water in NZ is a spiritual right exclusively for them is a frivolous falsehood. Water is Life, we all need it, our bodies are predominantly made up of it, and for Maori to imply that non-maori do not have an equal right, is seditious. Come on Ministers, grow some balls and kick this into touch immediately. Vic

*Ayn Rand once said something to the effect that any attempt to make a compromise with evil can only ever result in more evil. That is a perfectly logical and true conclusion.
It applies equally to trade unions and Maori. Both will “negotiate” to further their demands and avidly grab any concessions made to them which, they will say, are now set in concrete – never to be changed. Meanwhile any concession they make is only temporarily observed, if at all. It will come up for re-negotiation the next time they dream up a grievance. It is a strictly one-way street leading in the direction they wish to go.
In the case of Maori it is also a cul-de-sac which can old end in their taking-over control of New Zealand lock, stock and barrel. The more outspoken of them actually state that as their aim. But they are scorned as radicals who will never attain their aim. Well – the laugh is on Key and his equally naïve mates – it is happening, steadily, on their watch! Ron

*Maori never owned NZ. Maori deprived those here before them of any Rights by murder and plunder. All natural resources are and should be held and protected by the crowm for the people. John

*Water was not and never will be created by Maori. It is created like the air we breathe by nature to sustain life for all on this earth.It disgusts me that Maori think they have the right to claim ownership of naturally occurring elements. Next it will be the air we all breathe. Gary

*Not unless they can scupper the privateisation nonsense. Christopher

*NO NO NO..I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT IT COULD EVEN BE CONTEMPLATED...WE ALL NEED WATER TO EXIST...IT BELONGS TO ALL NEW ZEALANDERS EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT THROUGH THE WATER COMPANIES BUT AT LEAST IT HONEST...NO AGAIN NO...STAND UP KEY AND DON'T BE GUTLESS IN THE FIGHT FOR ALL OF US AND NTO JUST MAORI. AUDREY

*Can anyone satisfactorily give me a clearly understandable reason why these people, who call themselves Maori (but in fact are of mixed parentage, with as much European as Maori or more European than Maori) attempting a bluff that they can claim the fresh water?
Pre-European Maori didn’t own land or water - they didn’t exploit it either! Why should anyone exploit it now? (That is ANYONE!)
We should all look after it and use it wisely. Roll on having binding referendums where politicians have to return to being servants of the people - majority rule NOT who has the “power and or money!”
Roll on to when this “Maori” action of pulling the wool over gullible politicians and bureaucrats eyes stops.
Might I add, that the media are largely responsible for giving such rubbish traction that it ought never have had! It's already gone too far with all the Treaty claims!
I'm a New Zealander as much as any of them are. They need to remember they cannot pretend their European ancestry doesn't count. If it wasn't for the European side of their ancestry - they simply wouldn't exist - I'm talking genetics here! Rod

*Absolutely not. Our fresh water resources belong to every NZer on an equal basis. Sarah

*Isn't this getting ridiculous. The greedy maoris at it again and unfortunatly they are dealing with a spineless power hungry John Key. So if not enough rain falls to satisfy the greedy maoris, we will be in even more strife? Neil

*This resource belongs to all NZ citizens. Allan

*Definitely not, how can anyone own something that has been dropping out of the sky since time began. Ian

*Definitely NOT How can anyone own water? It is a moving substance flowing on all the time so it is not still long enough for anyone to own Will the Maoris ever stop their quest for greed? Judith

*Nobody should be allowed to own the fresh water resource. Helen

*Absolutely not. Another rort!!! And while I am commenting I object to Whanau Ora being funded by taxpayer funds. Why isn't it funded from the hefty payouts given to Iwi. Weren't we told those payments would assiat Maori better themselves? How appropriate then that they fund their own to do that and stop bleeding taxpayer funds. Margaret

*A ridiculous agreement. Peter

*They shouldn't be given anything until they pull their socks up as a race but...as per usual, most Kiwis you speak to are too lazy or dumb to stand up for their rights and any impetus is lost. Easier to move overseas it seems. Peter

*Hell No! Why can't we have someone in parliament alerting the media and public to the real dangers of the maori radicals and these ongoing outrageous claims of owning or having rights to any and everything. Maoris weren't even the first ones living in NZ! Nigel

No, because water belongs to no one. It comes from the sky as a result of condensation, which could have taken place any where. The water in our lakes and rivers could have arrived from Australia, antarctica, the distant Pacific, in fact from wherever the prevailing wind blows from. It then flows into the sea and is disdbursed far and wide, perhaps never to return to NZ. So no one can claim a thing that is so transient. Brian

*One law for all can never happen when ownership rights to anything are based on race. Rod

*This is nothing short of bullyism. Hone

*This Racist Maori ownership crap will go on and on until non-maori New Zealanders have the guts to step out and tell Key and his mates to stop sucking up to Maori. Vern

*It's time all those against this Maori view marched against them. Judith

*When will Maori learn to live in the now, and not in the 1840's. Jane

*Your comments on full and final x 4 was hard to be reminded of and has been foregotten by New Zealanders. We need reminding but it is hard to immagine how with the imature press in the state that it is in NZ. Murray

*Some Maori must be laughing up their sleeves! Today water,tomorrow what about the air we breathe? After all, both are from nature's realm. Sadly, these greedy demands reflect very badly on some Maori. Unfortunately weak government refusing to say NO and facing the fallout of that may eventually result in the creation of a monster. Some would say it already has. Best always to say No earlier rather than later or you bring out the very worst in human nature. Del

*They have already been given too much. Given is the operative word. Brian

*IQ's under 80 prevail - stop the voo-doo no one owns a natural resource. Dennis


*This current campaign by maori is another money grabbing eliteist strategy to exclude the wider population of NZ. Susannah

*Absolutely not. NZ should be ONE - division is dangerous and will ultimately lead to lawlessness and rioting like we see all accross the world. Colleen

*A ridiculous concept. Water is a life force for all creatures and plants on earth. Alan

*Absolutely NOT If this ever happened power prices would skyrocket with their greed. Graham

*Maori are the tail wagging the dog and national are letting mainstream NZ down big time. Peter

*Of course not. As a trout fisherman I can tell you the bulk of people who do not pay for a license is moari and any illegal netting is normally by moari. Daryl

*Where is this one nation one people policy. This government is going from bad to worse. When are they going to have the guts to say enough is enough. How any one could claim the water that comes from evaporation of the ocean and it could be the Indian ocean is beyond me. John

*I believe that this claim to water resources is to establish a new grievance. It is the settlement of this grievance that they realy want. They are after all the assets that the Govt. proposes to sell to the public. They want these assets GIVEN to them as settlement for this dubious "grievance". Of course the Waitangi Tribunal will find a excuse to support the Maori claim. That is a foregone conclusion. Ray

*The next thing will be charging for river use. Wake up pathetic non Maori. Lars

*Errol! Very good point you made. It sort of goes along with our thinking: Neither Maori or European ancestors payed anybody for our Natural resources when they arrived to these shores therefore it is not 'owned' by anybody to be sold by anybody. We doubt very much that the New Zealand citizens would want that principle changed which is what the Iwi are trying to do. If the Government goes along with this it will have major implications for NZ citizens and therefore is not solely for the Government to make a decision on.
We are the New Zealand citizens! Why are we not being given the chance to speak for ourselves? Our thoughts and feelings are our mental property and the Crown and Iwi of our country do not represent them or should assume to do so. We should not have to run around getting signatures to demand a referendum on such a major issue that we are going to end up paying through the nose for and not just financially! Ken & Trina

*Water is a natural resource and should be for the benefit of all NZer's not a greedy few. Keith

*What next? Air? wind? sun? Isobel

*Our Government is giving in too much to the Maori activists. The first, "Full and Final payment", was back in 1947. GW

*No one people should have control of water. What is this country coming to. Looks like some nasty movie plot looming over our heads . John

*Politicians as spineless as John Key will continue to give Maori basically whatever they want. When does the backlash really begin? Roger

*Maori should be acknowledged and their culture protected. But they should not be given any money as that only fuels their desire for more funds. Maori people must acknowledge that they have mixed heritage and that the treaty was between all their ancestors european and Maori. Martin

*We need to stop giving Maori preferential treatment. Barbara

*Certainly not! The idea that any one group of NZers have ownership of, and therefore control over, such a fundamental element of life itself is detestable. It would show contempt for the most basic of human rights. Sue

*There is no such thing as "maoris" in NZ. No special rights either. Barry

*That you even have to ask the question shows how low the vision of the leadership has become -Key must stick to his no-brainer comment and act on it and say 'no' to the racists for the first time [of many no's in the future]. Monica

*This is another "thin edge" and would result in a raft of barriers and restriction to ordinary New Zealanders. What next? Wayne

*No, but why not ? We've already given them the salt-water. Another gravy train, another source of resentment!! Dave

*I fear that it will happen though as Key has not got the guts to say no to these bluggers and the average Kiwi has no idea what is going on. Ronmac

This week's poll asks:

Should Maori be given ownership rights to New Zealand’s fresh water resource?

*Stop this nonsense now or we are all down the drain. Don

*Do not rely on Key or Shearer to say "no" to the Maoris. Both of these so called leaders are "yes" men when it comes to Maori. Quite frankly, I don't care how much overseas buyers purchase. Better to bring in the cash than just hand it all to Maori to sell off and make money just for them. I have no intention of spending another Waitangi racist day in NZ. I have no intention after July 2012 spending another day in NZ. I am over greedy Maoris, apathetic NZers and successive Governments just giving them whatever they want. Water, Air, yeh right. And don't worry, they will get it and you will all be paying for the air that you breathe. Ridiculous. Chris

*Next these indigenous opportunists will want rights to the air we breathe. John

*It is undemocratic ,to savour one sector of the community, based on racial bias! The Govt should make a stand and stop this country being further enveloped into this apartheid type Country. James

*Why are we even negotiating with bludgers. Roger

*Water is indestructible it doesn't belong to anybody, what are the politicians maoris talking about. John

*Rain from heaven is life force for all - rivers are a conduit. Maori are in Dream Time if expect that to be acceptable to ALL NZ'ers. Cliff

*We must stop handing over our country to a bunch of minority radicals. Dennis

*Owned by every New Zealander. Terry

*No , No, No and undeline NO! The precedent has been set where the NZ public pay koha or graft money for everything !! Enough is enough. Jeremy

*The water is there for all NZ'ers. The move by Maori is another attempt to force their will on the country. Peter

*It is owned by the Crown - i.e. all New Zealanders! Fraser

*The whole treaty claim thing is totally out of control. Cannot believe that National has pandered to them so much. They should just say NO MORE!! Sandra

*Absolutely, categorically ...NO. Bruce

*As most of our rain and weather patterns come from Australia possibly we should be paying them. If we get floods from too much rainfall are the Maoris going to pick up the tab for damages from flood water? George

*Absolutely NOT. Or the next thing will be a claim for the air we breathe. Maurice

*Another demand by spoilt children. David

*No way, never ever should the National party give in to the Maori Party demands! Nick

*Ooops, I should have said, "Yes," as long as it includes rain, dew, frost, snow, humidity, condensation (except, possibly, my own breath)... I suppose it is hard to seperate air and water, so, iwi should have first right to air and sunshine, all plants that have used any of the above, so, too with all animals and animal products. Would we have to get individual permits, or could there be one comprehensive permit which covers everything. Maybe each iwi would have to issue its own permits? This sounds like a bureaucrat's dream - and we all know what kind, caring and compassionate people they. Under such a fair and equitable system there would be no likelihood of arguments or fights between the tribes as to who owned what. I thought we had moved past silly stuff by 1840. Is the correct answer to the questions, "What does the Treaty mean?" "what would you like it to mean?" I can't think why NZ is falling further and further behind Australia. How smart are the "go-getter" Maori across the ditch who are doing so well!!! If I can't beat them, I'd better join them. Duncan

*Water is life - not an Iwi commodity. Kerry

*John Key makes me sick. Most people don't know what he is doing. Jim

*As appropriate as having ownwership of the firmament. Christine

*I think this country and some of our politicials are in the throes of a severe mental breakdown that prevents them from seeing the obvious harm they are doing. Do we need a Middle East spring here. Laurent

*When will we ever be one people. Maori have had the same rights as anyone else. In fact they have been given more than Pakeha over the years. They have always sat beside us in school but this minority have not succeeded in life and want to disrupt NZ because they will not aspire to anything better. So tired of it all. Beverley

*If we believe in democracy,the majority must rule. 90% of NZ'rs will vote No. Roger

*Against this proposal vehemently. Barbara

*New Zealand belongs to New Zealanders, not just a section of them. Why are some New Zealanders being prejudiced against, for a few. Stealing for Peter to pay Paul. New Zealanders should be one as they were in the past, not being divided into groups for the benefit of some. Teresa

*Maori should only get back the Land that was confiscated from them & the Govement of the day said they will pay them back, I would think Maori have had more than that back. Claiming water, Air Lakes Rivers they where here before Maori got here so they belong to every New Zealander. Does John Key not read your letters. Geoff

*Lines need to be drawn, else what will come next after water, air? Graham

*Very bad move to encourage more grabbing of resource. John

*With nobs on! John

*This country is doomed. John Key is a fool and a charlitan. John

This week's poll asks:

Should Maori be given ownership rights to New Zealand’s fresh water resource?

*Water
Air?
Radio waves
Internet
It will never stop. Kevyn

*Water is a renewable resource and as such does not belong to anyone or anybody. Patricia

*I was a very positive person pre 2000 now I hate my own country. Grant

*How do we get this in to the media, to wake up the sleeping, she will be right, mentally? Smith

*I always understood that water was provided by or as a result of an "act of God". This implies to me an equal right to this basic requirement of life. Is it their intent to charge for the suns rays that one day will supply all our electrical needs? Chris

*Water is for everyone not one race. Bruce

*Water is a basic human need ....for all. Colleen

*I think we are now in a situation where the only thing that will get the governments attention now is civil war. Otherwise they will just give away everything to Maori and the people who have built this land, white folks, will have to go cap in hand to maori for everything. We are on a path to economic destruction and we are about 75% down that path. Dianna

*No race of people in the world owns the water it is part of the life force of the planet. Ian

*We are all New Zealanders, and need to get over a piece of paper signed by some 172 yrs ago. Lorraine

*Chinese with a few farms v Maori and the whole landscape including the air we breath. Who are we kidding? Cyril

*As the demands of Maori grow far in excess of what the treaty ever envisaged, I find myself loathing this race of no good bludgers.
Watch out NZ because when the Asians / Chinese substantially outnumber Maori and hold the balance of power.....Hope they will tell Maori....."get stuffed....here comes a bullet if you cause trouble" bring it on. Mike

*This is just another carriage hooked on to the gravy train!! Maureen

*Belongs to us all. Noel

*This is a resource vital to the lives of all, not just Maori and shuld never be privatised. Les

*When the Crown at the time of purchase 170 years back to which some chielf where paid , in some cases more than once for the land which came unencumbered, including all that was within those boundaries.(land/Sea bed/ foreshore lakes/rivers/mountains etc.) This Government and all previous Governments had/have no right to allow any Treaty or be it the Tribunal to enter into any memorial without a referendum. The Treaty is a disaster and out of kilter when 99% of the populations is indigenous. (Born here.)
John Keys and his cohorts are inline with the Christchurch city Council, Mad Hatters Tea Party of polititians out of their depth. Robert

This week's poll asks:

Should Maori be given ownership rights to New Zealand’s fresh water resource?

*As a part Maori, I say this belongs to us all, not to one section of us. It MUST NOT HAPPEN. Heather

*If water is a life force for Maori, it is a life force for all. Willy

*Resources belong to all New Zealanders. Pam

*Air will be next. You will soon need a resource consent every time you take a breath. Anyone who farts without first obtaining a carbon credit will be dismantled and recycled. K

*National have gone mad. What gutless leadership. Alan

*Water rights should be held by the crown for all kiwis regardless of race. same for foreshore and sea bed ownership. Greg

*Idiots the lot of them. Arigo

*This BS must stop now. Enough is enough. One can't help wondering just how many more are getting kickbacks from treaty settlements other than the Maori elite. Key should go on the list for a spine implant. Stephen

*Can't believe that the govt is even contemplating a compromise deal on this subject!! Tony

*Tell 'em to p--- off this government should remember who are the majority that elected them--and it wasn't the Maori. Martin

*Note the Treaty of Waitangi has been replaced by the Treaty of Westminister. Graeme

*Fresh water is part of Nature, not Maoris, it was here long before they where, next it will be the air! Sharon

*Who in their right mind would even consider this!? That is SOOOOOOO scary! Andy

*They will get the water because we dont have the guts to say no. Edward

*No, no, a hundred times NO. Beryl

*Key has completly failed us. Malcolm

*Any water Maori may have had claim to has long since flowed out to sea. The water at present in our lakes and rivers belongs to all NZers. Rod

*Absolutely NO!! Water belongs to everyone! Ken

*Water was here long before the Maori arrived in NZ and imbued it with some sort of spiritual significance- they never created it. John

*John Keys Words - "this a no brainer" - maori-isation seems to now have reached the point of no return and has gained a momentum of its own. Woe is us and our apathy. Roger

*We desperately need another Sir Robert Muldoon to take hold of New Zealand and stop these bastards from destroying the country. He was by far the best Prime Minister New Zealand has ever had. He had the guts to stand up to these lawless, self indulging, greedy, minority maoris who have the same opportunities as every other New Zealander to make their own living, but are too lazy or too 'thick' to bother, when it is so easy for them to put their hands out, and be given, literally anything they want.
Politicians in power today - GUTLESS !!!!! Jayne

*Once you start to go down this road there is no endpoint- so more and more marginal claims will be maid and "settled" with our money until the money runs out and its time to make the mext brazen claim.What next-a claim for anything edible or a claim for the air we all breathe? Lech

*It is long past time for NZ to stop talking about Maori and started thinking of everyone as NZer's. There would be no Maori at all without the Treaty of Waitangi. Now there are not any Maori left as they are all intermarried and have been for 100 years at least. Elsie

*When will we get a Government with the guts to say 'ENOUGH'. Tracy

*The water was here before Maori, it is not theirs to claim. David

*Me thinks that anything Maori touch ~ turns eventually to dust! I do not want to drink or use dust-laden water. Thank you for your newsletter Items. Tauranga. Bay of Plenty ~ of good clean 'for all New Zealanders' water. Sheila

*The arguments for this are pure casuistry. Mike

*Until Maori are prepared to stand as equals to the rest of New Zealanders without a Race tag they will always be second class citizens. Victor

This week's poll asks:

Should Maori be given ownership rights to New Zealand’s fresh water resource?

*Not now not ever. Ivan

*Maori owner ship is closely akin to foreign ownership for most kiwis - no access or paid access to all but a few iwi. Gary

*All resources in NZ belong to the Crown, being all people resident today. Les

*Absolutely not! How ridiculous! Vanessa

*No group of people on any racial, commercial, social, environmental or other basis should be given/granted property rights at the expense of others. James

*Its time John key got his act together or has he already made plans for 2015. Frank

*Too much Maori crap these days. Clive

*Hell no =- stop now. Peter

*Water is the 'spiritual life force for all beings, human, animal and other types. Robina

*There has to be a line drawn somewhere and this must be it. June

*The sooner we stop this rubbish the better. Karl

*We are all New Zealanders and one race should not be selected for preferential treatment. Wayne

*The fresh water belongs to ALL New Zealanders. The more some of the Maori people are given the more they want. It is time to bring the Treaty and everything relating to it to an end. Fay

*Definitely not! These resources, like the foreshore, belong to ALL New Zealanders. Bernie

*Heck no. Water is essential to every man, woman and beast. No one group should have ownership, we have enough racial devision to choke on as it is. Besides the concept of land/resource ownership is a new concept to maori that has been embraced with far too much enthusiasm. Bring back the one people 2 colours. Jeff

*Of course not. We may not agree with Helen Clark in many things she did, but she was right with the Foreshore and Seabed issue, and were that she was here to deal with this issue in a similar way. Ron

*Maori should be grateful that they didnt get the same treatment as our closest neighbor's native population and at the end of the day we are now all NZ's. Matthias

*They never owned it in the first place. Graeme

*Water is a renewable resource and what was there then is no longer here today. All thing are getting ridiculous. John

*Absolutely no reality in the suggestion that anyone owns water. Barbara

*When is the public at large going to wake up to the naked greed of these people who keep on changing their reasons for their claims by the week. They are fraudulent and it is time we had a strong Government who will stand up and finally say NO to everything. Unfortunately we have had weak Governments more interested in their re-election chances than the country as a whole and the Key-led Government is taking us to new lows in this matter. They are costing us billions of dollars that could be better spent on everyone and quite frankly I doubt it will stop until there is nothing more to give and 'Maori' own our country lock, stock and barrel. It's rapidly heading that way. B+H

*As night turns into day, you can be assured Keys will give Maori the water they want, he gave them the foreshore, and he will give them the power stations as well. Peter

*I really am fed up with Maori demands. Its time to say enough is enough. Barbara

*Are we not all New Zealanders? Would departing from the Crown make the Treaty null and void if so lets go that way and start over all as equalls. James

*Like the majority of the country, I am appalled at the disposal of the assets of NZ to the minority Maori who have sat there with their hand out from day one. The advantages Maori get today over the Pakeha is ludicrous. Trevor

*I am one of the people who have chosen to live overseas to escape this B.S. Murray

*Of course not - we are all very tired of the ongoing claims by Maori to compensation, but where is the accountability for the millions paid by the rest of NZ. Katherine

*How the F@#%^*g hell can they think that they own the water it comes from the sky. Whats going to be next. Graham

*Another whinge from the "its ours" crowd. Nickers to them all. Benjamin

*No one should have ownership rights to our fresh water. Liz

*I thought the Treaty was about NZ being for all New Zealanders. Neil

*Maori blood is getting more and more watered down which means more and more people can claim to be Maori and therefore we shall never be free of treaty claims as long as there is money involved unless we can get a Government strong enough to wipe the treaty. Governments give in to them to get their vote. Mary

*Never, and boy am I fed up with everything Maori. Carole

*This is unthinkable. The government should take a firm stand that it belongs to all New Zealanders. Jill

*The suggestion is absolutely absurd and should be met with a most resounding NO by every thinking New Zealander. Phil

*When will National get the message we are all NZer's and Maori are not and never were the indigineous tribe, there were many others before them. TN

*Absolutely not. They are ripping the rest of us off. Enough is enough Not a Cent more. Colin

*Next they will be charging us to breathe. Bruce

*Why should anyone own the water that falls from the sky, total garbage. Mark

*Greed! When will we get a PM who has the guts to say NO NO NO to these greedy, manipulative, crafty sods.
And while we are on this subject, could someone please advise me where there is mention of a partnership or principles in the
Treaty? Politicians are being conned and they know it but haven't got the balls to say No. Vote National? - never again! Carolyn

This week's poll asks:

Should Maori be given ownership rights to New Zealand’s fresh water resource?

*I am sick and tired of racial privilege, if I had the money I would move to Aus because maori in the end will have everything thanks to stupid governments,it is quite likely that there will be civil war when maori start charging to go to the beach, which will happen. Carolyn

*Maori are getting far to greedy, the water falls from the heavens, so how they can claim this is just greed. Graham

*Never, never, never. They should be stopped right now. The National Party has become the laughing stock because of their inability to govern properly for the benefit of all Nz'ers. Bob

*NO WAY! Alex

*But they will be given ownership in some form or other by National or Labour. Just think at what is at stake? A SEAT ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL. Nothing just nothing as trivial as an event in NZ should stop this premier seat being ours. Readers should turn to David Round's blog to realise the implications that await us all from the progress of Maori domination and the sell out of New Zealand. Brian

*We do NOT own nature. No one does, how can anyone in their right minds try to 'own' such things? Shades of sci-fiction! Maybe reading too many comics! ANNA

*No way in the world should they be given fresh water resources or anything else for that mater. They have had more than their fair share already...Nothing more ever again. Bill

*The water was here before Maori got here so it is not a Maori Taonga created by Maori. Water belongs to nature and must not be owned by anyone. Errol

*NO - of course not. The ceaseless greedy demands by Maoris must be stopped. Well overdue for a politician to develop the testicular fortitude to oppose the Maori grievance industry once and for all. John

*Helen Clark got it about right, these resources are held by the crown and governed in the best interest of all New Zealanders. Dave

*Fresh water is the right of every New Zealander. Marion

*We are 'absolutely' fed up. Almost at the point of grabbing weapons and starting a civil uprising. Nikki

*It is a vital national resource. Brian

*This country belongs to all of us, not just Maori, I am of maori heritage and am getting sick of all the me-me-me attitude. Make them all get jobs and help pay there way like the rest of us. Many sitting on the benefit and getting paid to protest. Why are we paying taxes to support these prats. We all need to pay our share, not just some of us. Roger

*The crown should control the water, on behalf of ALL the people of New Zealand. Brent

*We should not even waste time debating it. Noela

*In my opinion -absolutely NOT, this is another step in the wedge towards civil disobedience, or outright civil (read Racial) war in this country. But then - we have a National government who will doubtless be willing to cede future rights of all Kiwi's just to stay in office. John Key should have the guts of Helen Clarke, but he is a hollow shell with no guts visible. Carl

This week's poll asks:

Should Maori be given ownership rights to New Zealand’s fresh water resource?

*It's another Maori rort!! John

*Water belongs to all Kiwis. Roddy

*The Treaty nonsense has to stop! Graham

*But the worst of it is, the Maori voice is the only way I can see for NZ's assets being lost forever to overseas money. Wendy

*How absurd, next it will be ownership of the air we breath. I am sure that if the government wont stop all this greed and claim rubbish, someone else will. Ray

*All RACIST, AVARICIOUS, S**T-STIRRING moari have no claim to anything.

They want their "customary rights", then tell the RACIST, S**T-STIRRING moari to go-fish with bone hooks, flax ropes, hollowed out logs, wooden paddles and grass skirts.

You want "customary" then do it in a "customary" way using all the same tools as your ancestral MOARI RACISTS used.

This means no beer, no TAB, no hospitals, no schools and, most important NO WELFARE SYSTEM and NO WAITANGI CLAIMS.

Works for me! Mark

*Hell no!! Peter

*Why not? They are being handed everything else on a platter, why do you think they are so against asset and land sales? everything currently publicly owned is still up for grabs it seems. John

*This resource belongs to the Crown and all NZ people. Barbara

*Water resources belong to New Zealanders as a whole. Serge

*The fact that we even have to ask this question is beyond belief. Phil

*New Zealand people are all PEOPLE stop the maori segregation and favoritism.. My ? is Are the maori compensating for those that lived here before them.. I think not, they got killed and some eaten!! leave the past behind and be New Zealanders.. Lynette

*This is outrageous and disgraceful. Where will the divisions in NZ society end? Maori have turned into money-grabbing activists and as a New Zealander, I have had enough. Prue

*This is a resource that needs to be managed for all of New Zealand, not a specific race. Martin

*Fresh water comes from RAIN - are they going to claim ownership of that too? Simon

*Keep up the good work!! But how can we get a bigger forum and be able to inform all NZers of what is happening. We are like the Moriori of the Chathams,apathetic naieve lambs for the slaughter by Hitler like racists. Michael

*IWI stands for "I Want It". Terri

*No bloody way! Enough! Norm

This week's poll asks:

Should Maori be given ownership rights to New Zealand’s fresh water resource?

*This call for the ownership of water is ridiculous. It exposes the greed of Maori leaders. It is time to pull the plug on their continued claims. Otherwise it will never end. A claim for the air we breathe will be next. Will John Key have the guts to take a hard line? I doubt it but I really hope he does! Barbara

*Definately not! I am soooooooooo sick of this absolute rubbish! Trina

*When will all of this end? National must stand up against all of these Maori demands. Surely they won't let them get away with owning our water - as well as our foreshore and seabed. Joe

*NZ's only hope is for Winston Peters to speak out strongly against the Maorification of NZ and force National to get tough. National have proven that they can't be trusted as far as Maori demands are concerned. Go Winston!!! Graham

*And I was naive enough to think that the gravy train was going to end once the historic claims were settled. Yet they keep coming back for more. This has got to stop. It has gone on for far too long and Maori have won far too many concessions. Tim

*No, no, no!!!!! Surely even National is not stupid enough to give away control of water to society's champions of greed. No-one else has their hands out to the extent that the iwi elite have. It is sickening. Maureen

*Re Grievance Day: IT SHOULD BE CALLED - "THE TREACLE OF WHITE TANGLE" as all it is, is a sticky mess. TVNZ predictably focussed solely on the radical element. Sad really, as most there were obviously putting gallant time and effort into it to be fair. Its beginning to resemble the Middle East mayhem. GW