TRM’s weekend read was supposed to be a fishing report, but as long as the Maori racist abuse continues, we need to address that first:

Below is a typical cheeky tongue-in-cheek complaint letter.  Many are not suitable for further distribution or are too rude.  This one is to let you know that TRM can upset non-Māori Kiwis who still retain their traditional sense of humour as well…

“Are you winding up the natives again?

The ancestral tree for some of those Turangi natives is as English and Irish as you and me.

The Horis of today would have embarrassed their ancestors. When granddad was living in Turangi, they were all friends and neighbours, and all got on.”

So, the following response is added to explain the confusion.

So much has happened over this silly issue that a brief review might help explain.   Over a week ago now, TRM included a photo of a local Marae structure.  The Marae owners objected to their spiritual home being on TRM’s blog.  But the photo was taken about 12 years ago.  Judging by the format, I do not even think it was mine, and it has been included in hundreds of other posts over the years without any comments from the tribe.  So why all the abuse?  So what had changed?  Can you guess…  They imagine they can revise all the rules over everyone else.

Due to their protests, TRM has now been accused of spreading racist propaganda with a storm of other evil crimes against humanity.  We maintained it is all nonsense and suggested my passport to the Republic of Whangamomona had as much legal substance as some obsolete 19th-century beliefs we are accused of offending.   We have not changed our view.  Indeed, all the crass correspondence only confirmed that view. It has been the same policy with TRM posts for over twenty years.

To indicate our concerns, we repeat our response to previous accusations:

“To achieve their objective, some objectors posted misleading claims about the motel.  That was nasty and totally unnecessary.  This motel has operated here for over 65 years.  There is no way that any tourist accommodation could survive if it was as foul as claimed.  When they failed to argue the issues sensibly, they resorted to racist claims and slander.  Their comments confirmed the education system has failed them.

(Above, 1950’s photo of Tongariro River Motel being illegally erected using a Māori name without tribal permission)

As an example of the misguided absurdity of their deleted arguments, they claimed we do not have their permission to use the Māori name of “Tongariro”.  Therefore, neither does Tongariro School, Tongariro Rafting, Tongariro Lodge, Tongariro National Park, Tongariro Crossing, Tongariro Retreat, etc. Are they all illegal too?  Tongariro must have been misused for many years; for example, the SS Tongariro was built beside the Waikato River, Taupō, in 1899.

There is no hiding the fact that this motel is old.  The owners are even older.  TRM has never been tarted up but proudly retains all the old, friendly character features; i.e., we do not know of any other motel featuring fold-down ironing boards.  (These days they are used more as collapsible fly-tying tables.)  They add to the charm of yesteryear.  Our many older, loyal repeat customers prove that the more important considerations are competitive room rates and providing a warm, cosy atmosphere with good service.  But the age factor is no excuse for calling it in the derogatory, abusive manner described to try to destroy our reputation online.  Fortunately, the vast bulk of prospective guests see through that.  There is no way we would enjoy such a high percentage of returning guests if the standards slid that low.”

This is repeated because a number of complainants think they have been so devious by continuing to post nasty, misleading, derogatory comments to downgrade TRM’s status on various motel reviews.  Despite their stupidity, we cannot sit by and ignore them while they spread their poison. They think they have bypassed our “delete” key by going directly to the motel review sites to rubbish TRM when comparing room rates at other motels, so reluctantly, we have to respond again.   Where is the AI app for this?

Over a week ago, TRM warned that we would simply delete any similar rude complaints.  We might have missed a couple, but now the same clowns are whining that their complaint was not posted on Facebook.  We admit we are dealing with the intelligence of children here.  For them, I promise that if the misleading rubbish continues, I will remove it.  They are wasting their time.

Their immature interpretation has been compounded by TRM’s photo showing their marae.  If anyone has a different opinion to allow any photos, then that automatically classifies them as a racist!

I should be surprised they have not held TRM responsible for the swarm of earthquakes lately.  We did warn online back on 19 July, but the big one last Saturday on 27th July even surprised us with our supernatural powers.  If you believe TRM’s blogs contain such mystical powers, then who are we to disagree?

The same goes for Father Christmas and the rest of the spiritual rumblings about the little meeting house.  To some local people it might hold historical reverential powers, but to the other 99% who read these more informative reports, it is just another quaint old building.

I am not trying to be culturally insensitive but just pointing out some basic facts.  Showing TRM’s photo on Facebook has nothing to do with ancient spiritual beliefs or racism, particularly when it is posted 12 years later!  If anyone wants to believe in ancient spirits and their version of God, then that is fine; go ahead.

But that does not mean that TRM’s Facebook “editorial policy”, if we had one, has to believe it too.  We prefer to reflect the majority of guests’ basic common sense of justice, to understand and accept why they came to stay here and to encourage them to return.

We join them as they worship and bless our majestic Tongariro River trout instead.  We really are that simple!