Culture matters, as does having hope

Meredith Akuhata-Brown

Opinion

If anyone had told me that in 2023 the incoming National Government would prioritise the return of government department names back to English I wouldn’t have believed it — especially when in our region the priority is a number of other “cultures”, particularly horticulture, agriculture, silviculture and permaculture.

Our region has come through one of the toughest years on record and many are still dealing with the ongoing impacts of cyclone Gabrielle. Debating race and language as well as Te Tiriti principles just strengthens the pretend agreement that this nation has when discussing Māori.

A recent news article noted that: “Te reo use is on the rise in New Zealand but remains firmly a second language. Competent speakers have grown from 6 to 8 percent from 2016 to 2021, including 23 percent of Māori, up from 17 percent. Assimilationist governments banned the language in schools for much of the 20th century, causing trauma for many Māori.”

This Government is causing unnecessary harm.

I attended a graduation recently and witnessed young people presenting themselves with such mana motuhake that I was overwhelmed. Watching the younger generation step up and be proud of their Māori heritage is such a wonderful thing to behold, especially when I know it has been hard fought for.

Working within the social service sector is tough. Many Tairāwhiti whānau continue to face ongoing challenges based on the cost of living. Their priorities are certainly not race debates about Te Reo and principles of Te Tiriti.

I had the chance to sit with some students this year and discuss their future. I asked, ‘where do you see yourself in five years’. One student’s response was heartbreaking. She said “dead”.

This young person’s response tragically sits within data where Māori have the highest rates of suicide, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse. This is mainly due to the impacts of inequities that have plagued Māori for decades. It’s tough trying to be proud of your culture when you always have to defend it.

It is time we as a nation visioned together for a country that builds cultural capital.

Former Prime Minister Norman Kirk’s famous quote applies: “Basically there are four things that matter to people: they have to have somewhere to live, they have to have food to eat, they have to have clothing to wear, and they have to have something to hope for.”

Perhaps when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern misquoted him in one of her speeches, she was just adding her own thoughts about what people need: “someone to love, somewhere to live, somewhere to work, and something to hope for”.

Whatever way you look at this quote, the fact is that most New Zealanders still need the basics, and having something to hope for is especially important.

Life is stressful enough when you can pay your bills, feed your kids and gain access to health agencies, but when you constantly live in poverty and see your whānau struggling daily to make ends meet, it can lead to a resignation and acceptance that this is all there is to life.

In 2010 I spent some time in the slums of Manilla where research found that by the age of six, children accept that this is their reality — and while some make it out of the slums, millions don’t.

Of course, New Zealand isn’t a slum, but if we are to see generations break cycles of poverty we need them to truly feel proud of their heritage and connect to all of their culture.

This Christmas will be particularly hard for many, no matter what race they are.