I second cyborg's comment: I think Mr Douglas's speech ought to be compulsory read by all US Democrats as his prescription of alleviating social problems among the Maori people applies equally well to African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans. Moreover, he was a former committed socialist and card-carrying member of the Socialist International, something which even Barbara Lee cannot boast about. (I need to add something that may sound offensive to some American conservatives. I know a lot of you are wary of Hillary Clinton's policies: me too, but I admit she is not as left as we often make her out to be - she is no Helen Clark or Lionel Jospin. Remember she is a hawk on terrorism - something which definitely put her out of the left by Western European standards)
I like Donald Brash's speech about all this. Will have to dig around for it but it's great. I wish I saved the freepmail I sent to shaggyeel about this. It was pretty good but Brash's speech was much better.
http://www.national.org.nz/
I don't think the issues with the Maori are nearly as troublesome as what the US has to deal with. There was no slavery (as far as I know of) there but the Maori situation is probably a lot closer to the issues of American Indians. Just MHO.