Hi Joe,

Some of the strongest advocates for the rights of indigenous people have been Europeans. In 1840 at the signing of the 'Treaty of Waitangi' two such individuals were Henry and Edward Williams and to a lesser extent the belligerent James Busby. Before you go off accusing the three of being "Marxists", the Williams were missionaries, and Busby was the Official British Resident.

The claims of "powerful Indigenous friends" who might they be? Who "are happy to pass them off as such. All part of a patronage-clientage system - scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." All this conspiracy theory is well and good, but without evidence its only ones imagination through their minds eye, is it not.

When dealing with any system/organisation it good to have so called powerful friends. Maybe 'Beat Up' Bolt had powerful friends in the Police Force when he created his bogus assault by crazed lefties charge. Now there's a bloke who wasted taxpayer money, lets check his pedigree to see if he should not be made to pay up.

Paul,

"When dealing with any system/organisation it good to have so called powerful friends. Maybe 'Beat Up' Bolt had powerful friends in the Police Force when he created his bogus assault by crazed lefties charge. Now there's a bloke who wasted taxpayer money, lets check his pedigree to see if he should not be made to pay up"

There you go with that allegation again.

Evidence?

Paul,

Why are you accusing the Williams of being Marxists ? That would never have entered my mind. And while we're on the subject, one of the Rev. Williamses put together a very comprehensive Maori dictionary. [I think the other one did something similar with the Tongan language]. I'm presuming it would be properly full of farming terms. Many hundreds of Aboriginal languages here have been compiled into dictionaries. I wonder if any of them have farming terms. Any at all.

Cheers,

Joe

Hi Joe,

Why are you accusing the Williams of being Marxists ? No not I, see what I said was; "Before you (Joe) go off accusing the three of being "Marxists"..." You do have a propensity to often refer to those pesky Marxists, do you not? But that's by and by.

The Williams were a lot of things, but I doubt they were Marxists, they probably at that time at least had never heard of Karl, or any of the other Marx brothers. The Williams had a long association with the Anglican Church in NZ.

Hi Paul,

So neither of us accused the Revs. Williams of being Marxist. I'm glad that confusion has been resolved.

Joe

Hi Joe,

The Maori people affectionately referred to Henry Williams, as 'Four Eyes' he wore glasses, he is still very much revered today among Maori in the Bay of Islands region. I recall having a discussion with the Anglican Minister at the Marae a couple of years ago and he mentioned the Williams as being those most responsible for propagating the Anglican faith in Aotearoa. Sadly that good friend has passed away, he was only in his early 50's .