they’ve only been there since the 1300s

So? Please finish that thought.

Or the fact that they are not white gives them special privileges.

You know what, YES! It does! Now go cry about it.

human habitation on New Zealand has a history of less than a thousand years

I know. My point is that cats (or the Maori) have a minuscule impact on the environment when compared to settlers.

the word “aborigines” in that part of the world carries a potentially problematic connotation.

I see. What would be a more respectful alternative?

The ruling class will makes sure they are insulated from the consequences of war. It’s always the poor who are sent out to die.

Yes, but I think we need to distinguish between the native population, which has proven capable of co-existing with the local ecosystem, and the settlers, who’ll need to be culled.

Maybe we can be a little animale and let the aborigines adopt the more tame settlers. Find them nice, loving homes, you know? The rest will unfortunately need to be euthanised.

You know, I can think of one species that’s a lot more harmful to the environment. Maybe the cats of NZ should start hunting non-native members of that species.