NZ Centre for Political Research

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe race-based affirmative action programmes do more social harm than good?

*Our problem will remain as long as polititions will give in to maori so as to hold onto power. Desmond

*Somehow this has to be stopped. Apartheid is a very real threat to NZ. Barry

*This is a no brainer! Chris

*God defend NZ from the treachery, lies and deceit of these elite Maori. They changed the wording of the treaty to give them more so called rights, that were never intended in the original document.How dare they try to claim ownership of NZ's water? This is ridiculous to say the least. Water is owned by no one, but provided for all people for their use and good health. Maori elite are shameful in their drive to own what never belonged to them. This government is weak, allowing our nation to be corrupted. Democracy is visibly absent. The only way to unlock the door and let it out again is to abolish the treaty. Never, never, should it be allowed to be a part of our constitution.
One important question. If the Crown owns much of what these people are claiming, shouldn't there be a need to consult with the owner, our Sovereign - the Queen? Cecelia

*If you want to have a fight in your family favour one of your children. If want internal strife in a nation favour a group of citizens or race and that child in a family or citizen or race in a nation will be hated by those who are not favoured. So until we get a Government with guts to tell these elite Maori claimants to go take a running jump we can look forward to real racial problems in the future. Colin

*Naturally they do social harm...any race-based affirmative action giving one section of the population greater privileges over the rest is extremely harmful and totally inequitable...I always mistakenly thought NZ were one nation but this is definitely not true. Audrey

*Convinced people who are always in 'victim mode' never 'grow-up'(mature) so therefore we are forever dealing with children who do not have the future 'big picture',only momentary gratification. Two affirmatives make one fat negative. Monica

*As with almost all gummint interventions, subsidies & benefits, race-based affirmative action programmes do little good. They do not reach the people they're intended to help, & create a "dependency culture" - in this case for corporate iwi. Dave

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe race-based affirmative action programmes do more social harm than good?

*It seems to me that the Maori leaders have been very deceitful over all their greedy dealings and the government has been out for their greedy wants as well. What a sad place our lovely land has become. Barbara

*Agree wholeheartedly with abolishing the Treaty - the sooner the better. No parliamentary racially based seat either or any others on councils and the like. Jenny

*Apartheid is alive and well in NZ. Fact. See the separate maori seats as a prime example. Geoff

*John Key and all his sycophantic, corrupt followers are prepared to sell out the rest of New Zealanders for the lousy Maori votes that help keep them in power. This has to be one of the worst aspects of MMP and the deals done to acquire control at all costs.There seems to be little this government won't do for Maori - but at what cost to the futue od us all. Bill

*Anything race based will never be good for any country. Clark

*They are definatley not in all NZers interests. Noela

*These further instill the victim mentality and convince people they cannot help their situation. It also causes further disharmony between different races when one section of society is assisted and the rest are not. It hasn't worked so far so why does anyone think further allowances will mak any difference? Claire

*Selection should be on the basis of the best person. Affirmative action is unfair. Josie

*YES.

MOARI RACISM is still racism.

Matters not how you paint it: it's still RACISM.

Time for one country; one nation; one set of rules for all. Mark

*Come on NZ; when is enough, enough! Sarah

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe race-based affirmative action programmes do more social harm than good?

*No where in the world does race based priviledges succeed. It always ends in tears. Ultimately if it is let to proceed, as it is in New Zealand, it only ends in violence. No race of people will tolerate it forever. Please Please New Zealanders wake up to what is happening around you. Before it is too late. SPEAK OUT. Des

*Absolutely.....and it's way past time they were stopped. Ronmac

*In the 50's used to be proud of their work ethics now they are proud they can live of the hard work of white NZ'ers. Ian

*Yes these programmes, and attitudes, are destroying this country. The sickening thing in my mind is that when maoris spout on about their "race based" ideas and attitudes, they actually don't see anything wrong with what they are saying!!!! And to change their minds on issues they have strongly advocated previously also is OK!!! No idea of what is right and wrong. Absolute and complete arrogance. Agree with removing everything race related from the books and acting on it. Neil

*Anything "race-based" is flawed. We should return to the time when we were all proud to simply call ourselves "kiwis". Laurie

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe race-based affirmative action programmes do more social harm than good?

*We will never get rid of it in NZ. It will eventually be the ruination of our Country. Slowly the non Maori will move away as they don't like the discrimination against them. I have watched my family do so. No Government will ever get rid of the Waitangi tribunal. Had John Key done so in his first term he would have had an amazing majority in his 2nd term. No, sorry, it all suits all Government, it keeps the people separate. As they say, united we stand, divided we fall. Chris

*Former Yugoslavia is a case in point. It feel apart because of racial policies where one was identified by race and comparisons were made as to who was getting a bigger slice of the cake. George

*The non Maori folk feel undervalued and second class, and Maori increasingly feel that harm was done to them, the world owes them a living so why should they work and conform. Jill

*We all live in New Zealand, there should be no racial discrimination in voting methods. Roy

*All New Zealanders are supposedly EQUAL. It's time the politicians stopped discriminating! Eric

*But why do successive governments keep on this track? It is not only MMP Who ism receiving and what are the hidden "Backhanders". Bill

*This is destroying the fabric of Nz along with stupid Waitangi tribunal nonsense which is going to far. Time to stop it. Don

*Experience teaches that there is no such thing as a full and final settlement. The current situation favours Maori but places a growing obligation upon other residents of this country. Peter

*One land one race all New Zealanders. Peter

*Equal opportunity is essential and I believe NZ currently gives that. Equal outcome will not happen by legislation but by worthy parenting, strong home environment, value placed on education and good work ethics. Catherine

*We are heading down the path that took Rhodesia to where it is today but how do we reverse it? We are headed for real problems. The government is in bed with the Moari Party so will give them all they want, want, want so again that small minority is steering the ship. While we have an MMP government the dogs tail is too powerful for what it represents. Peter

*I left New Zealand because of this bullshit. I will come back when we have a government that has the balls to say enough is enough. I doubt I will be back. Murray

*But the attitude is firmly woven into the weft and warp of the NZ landscape. It is defended to the death by those elites who have profited so much from this policy. Yet we continue to have education policy and curriculum continuing to push what is pure propaganda so that yet another generation of sheeple just nods and goes back to sleep. Peter

*It is scary what is going on!!! Will not affect me, I am too old, but will affect my grandies. David

*Well what do we expect, I think it has got out of hand, almost to late to reverse it - sad time for most NZers I think. Kelvin

*How in god's name can anyone "OWN" water. You could say that if rain fell and went into my holding tank, I may own it, but rain falls on ground then goes into a stream thence to the ocean, nobody owns it. Dont be surprised if a claim is lodged soon for ownership of the air. Pathetic, frivolous and downright dangerous for those making claim. Ray

*How can this government not only allow but actively promote this happening??? How do we get it to stop?? I am SO sad to see this happening, it is doing nothing but harm to the average NZ'r who want to live in harmony with Iwi. Shirley

*If some Maori can make good, and lots do, why do the rest need handouts all the time? Or is it the greedy iwi leaders? Does the Maori in the street see any of the settlement money thrown at iwi? Race-based policies are alsways devisive, and not necessary. If iwi gets control of our water, I'm leaving. Sheila

*No wonder so many Kiwis are leaving this country for primarily Australia. Kiwis were very quick to rightfully criticise South Africa for it's race based policies, but where are those people now? As a non New Zealander living here, I am appaled at the racist nature of this country's policies and the way the majority of the population just sit back and do nothing about the situation. John

*The Maori rich get richer and they do not financially support their own people, expecting the Government to continue to hold up and support them. MaryAnn

*Virtually everyone I know is totally fed up with what is happening in this country. David

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe race-based affirmative action programmes do more social harm than good?

*We are all NZers but unfortunately recent governments lately have promoted a racial based society which has lead to a corrupted democracy and has frightening consequences. TN

*We are all mongrels of multi ethnic descent and must be treated equally. This state racisim is just vote buying by our socalist masters. Mike

*Very concerning, all the "back door" work being carried out by maori. No way are we on an equal footing.. Jane

*Any race based programmes that continue to split our population along racial lines are continuing to move toward dienfranchisement of the non maori majority of our citizens. Who is a maori anyway?? Therehasn't been a real one in NZ for many years! Jim

*NZders generally are a feckless lot when it comes to the Tresty. The world in its more civilised societies has moved away from racially devisive laws which address social and economic issues on the basis of ones ethnicity. Not so NZ. There appears to a corrosive subliminal move by those who stand to gain economically, to introduce racially based legislation to promote weath reallocation to those of a particular race. The fact that this offends against human rights and the precepts of a racially harmonious society seems to have been lost in NZ. Unless there is somthing done now to reverse this tide, NZ will become a divided society with a future little different from those third world countries where the remanents of such policies can still be found. Wake up NZ. Greg

*There is no such thing as positive discrimination ... just discrimination!!!!!!! Andy

*Anything 'Race-based' is bad for the majority of New Zealanders. Jayne

*Things should be done on the basis of need and no by race. Donald

*Tell that to underpants morgan. Keith

*We are on a road to apartied,not too far down this road is a state in turmoil, did my Dad serve in ww2 for NZ to get to this. Terence

*Does anyone with even an ounce of objectivity still need more evidence that we don't live in a democracy? It's sad that my country, which I love and where I was born, has gone into the socialist / tribal toilet, all because average NZers have been too lazy and greedy to actually challenge the nonsense that the UN and globalists keep trying to ram down their throats. See the price that the Syrians are paying for their complacency? Very soon, that will be OUR only course of action - other than sitting under the thumb of a despot, of course. Regrettably, the pot's been slowly brought to the boil, and most NZ "frogs in the pot" are quite content to simmer away. Our sons and daughters, parents and grandparents who fought in the wars for freedom died for nothing... We have squandered the freedom they won for us with their blood. In short, we suck. Peter

*It's racist no matter how you cut it! Time for equality for all. Roger

*Are we not all New Zealanders ??? Race -based programmes =UK,no thankyou. Peter

*Of course. How could anyone think otherwise except the race that is benefitting. Mary

*The treaty has been reconstituted for maori only. George

*But our politicians can only see the political gain to be had from pandering to the Maori elite. John

*Again and again we see Maori claims upon us all for the "sins of our Ancestors"! No doubt our Government and Opposition will find common ground for feeding this insatiable ever lasting appetite for more and more. While we continue to act like King Canute, hoping that the tide will never overwhelm us. We should think positive, for relief is at hand in the form of the United Nations Agenda 21 namely "Sustainable Development". Shirkers of the World Unite, you have nothing to lose but your welfare payments. Brian

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe race-based affirmative action programmes do more social harm than good?

*In the long term all this race based prerogative will destroy Maori and Maoridom. Interesting that in all they have had lavished on them, I have never once heard a thankyou, the hand just keeps coming out for more. Peter

*The likely Maori-dominated future for NZ fills me with despair. Key & Finlayson are conniving with Maori interests to the exclusion and detriment of all other groups, and the situation gets steadily worse, with no other voices being heeded at all. We have already reached a point of favouritism and imbalance that would have been unthinkable 40 years ago, but is now being gradually accepted. Public apathy is partly to blame; most people are too easily distracted by trivia and matters of relatively little importance to even see what is happening, let alone do anything about it. John

*All forms of racism are bad. Government racism is at the extreme end of seriously BAD. We can never develop into a civilised country with such institutionalised racism. Peter

*Of course they do but we will continue down the slippery slope because on election day we will still vote in parties that subscribe to it so we really can't complain. John

*Makes so much of a "them & us" mentality! We are one country..one people.. Anna

*The more they get the more they want. No law should give any one section of our community any political or economic advantage over any other. Phil

*We are now a racially based country and it is non Maori who are less than equal although I suspect most of the taxes come from them/us.I don't like the way this country is going and has gone already. It can only get worse. Margaret

*It does untold damage and continually promotes a position of racial inequality and intolerance. Prue

*No question about it. Any race based issue is abhorent to any sane thinking person. Sorry to say but all this is leading to only one outcome that will result in the country destroying itself. Continuing with accepting claims such as water ownership clearly shows how gutless and self serving all political parties are. (mana and moari excepted of course) The majority of New Zealanders have no idea what is going on. Ray S

*In New Zealand we have apartheid and each successive government is upholding it. Adele

*The climate change adherents would have us believe that we are close to a tipping point from which we will soon not be able to recover. A far closer and unrecoverable tipping point is that of race relations in New Zealand. If we do not start quickly to reverse the racist changes that are now happening in this country we will reach a stage where the only way to change to a country where all citizens are equal under the law is by revolution. Many of the younger generation think this already, as this is one of the unmentionable reasons they are leaving in droves. John

*Generations of intermarriage has blurred the distinction between Maori and Pakeha. A blue-eyed, blond child may claim to have Maori "ancestry", but this may mean one great grandparent born in the 1880's who even then could have been half-caste Maori. It's all fake and flawed. I've heard Dr. Sharples say he is not surprised so few Maori work on the fishingboats: they'd far rather be with their whanau. As for the secrecy about the new constitution: shame, shame, shame! Shame on all of us for letting this come to pass. Eneka

*I believe that some are needed but they are now going overboard with some of the grants given being 'used up' at the end of the year to support other initiatives. Judy

*Water is like air. No one group should own it. John

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe race-based affirmative action programmes do more social harm than good?

*We are one race of New Zealanders - one group should not be set aside with special privileges. Also I would like to see some data on the annual funding levels of Maori funds that go directly to correcting the many social ills evident in the NZ Maori society. I pay my taxes to obtain my state provided social support - and Maoris benifit from my contributions as well. But do I benefit from any of the enormous sums the various iwi have been garnering from the various agreements? Thomas

*It is ridiculous that the bogey of race still haunts us today and that politicians see appeasement as the only way forward. Don't they know appeasement only ever fuels more greed? Tim

*Most New Zealanders want us to be one people under one set of laws. After all equality under the law is a basic human right. Is that too hard to understand? Sue

*Affirmative action never works. It results in reverse discrimination and lower standards. It is a failed policy and should be scrapped. James

*Any policy that provides benefits based on race will only end in tears. There is no race problem in NZ only greed and iwi leaders need to take responsibility for inciting anger and hostility when funding streams are cut. That's not to say that legitimate claims should not be honoured - but that process is already well advanced even though many of the claims appear to be more fabrication than truth. We should be one people - what's so wrong with wanting our society to be equal? Karen

*Race based policies should be scrapped. Simple as that. Ken

*Maori are no longer a separate race. Intermarriage has taken care of that. Unless we want a society divided along racial lines - Chinese, Pacific Island, European, Maori, affirmative action programmes should be ended. Peter