New Zealand Race Relations

Ahhhh yes my homeland is in strife over its beaches. Who do they belong to? More importantly in some peoples minds who should they belong to. I am not Maori nor am I Pakeha (in the current sense of the word). What I am is a New Zealander and as a New Zealander I feel that they should belong to all New Zealanders not a select minority group. I understand Maori attachment to their "Customary Rights" as given by the treaty of waitangi but how long must we live in the past? The treaty is a document that was signed in 1840 for the circumstances of 1840. Yes there were mistakes made, but many of these have been redressed. It would be an absolute lie to say that all wrongs have been righted but attempts have been made.

New Zealand is a country of Immigrants. Go back in your ancestry far enough and you'll find that your origins go over the sea. Even the Maori admit to this and many of their legends focus on how they came to New Zealand. Wars have beeen fought, much of the the Taranaki, the Waikato and the Bay of Islands is steeped in the blood of both Maori warriors and British soldiers. It would be wrong to forget the events of the past but must we seek to right every wrong? Can't we move on into the future as one people of european, Maori, Pacific Isaland and Asian descent? Can't we bury the ashes of the past, learn from our mistakes and move on all the stronger because of it?

beaches beaches everywhere, but who owns them?