I dont think this is about romanticising the past. Maori were colonised, a violent process that nearly destroyed their culture, language and left them destitute

I dont think this is about romanticising the past. Maori were colonised, a violent process that nearly destroyed their culture, language and left them destitute. That's the fact of the matter. No happy clappy messaging about Maori culture is required to realise that Maori suffered immensely through colonisation, pakeha gained immensely through colonisation and we continue to do so. To suggest this is some swings and roundabouts, 50/50 kinda thing is frankly offensive.