Herald on Sunday Letters to the Editor: 'White privilege', motels for emergency accommodation

A Rotorua motel used for emergency housing. Photo / Andrew Warner

History must be in unbiased format

I feel increasingly apprehensive about where the extensive and rapid adopting of Government anti-racism policies and programmes will lead. Yes, we need to be taught our history, but not in a biased format.

My concern is that government policies based on separatism and new programmes being implemented now — e.g. teaching of white privilege — will, rather than address perceived systemic racism, generate fear in white New Zealanders, fuelling racism, extremism and, later, far-right activism.

We shouldn't be made to feel guilty and be paying for the "sins of the fathers". No race should. New Zealand is a multi-cultural country.

Paddi Hodgkiss, Rotorua

Majority privilege

An article about "systemic racism" and "white privilege" included a quote from an expert saying white privilege is about culture not race ("It is ignorance breeding fear", Herald on Sunday, May 16).

Then why call it "white", especially when we all know it is really majority privilege (in other countries it will have a different colour). In the real world (not academia), blaming "whiteness as a system" is exactly the same as blaming white people.

And systemic racial inequity should not be called "racism" until we know how the unequal outcomes are caused. Anyway, such a big, complex phenomenon is not likely to have a single cause.

Gavan O'Farrell, Lower Hutt

The plight of Rotorua

Heather du Plessis-Allan's article ("Appalling behaviour in emergency housing", May 16) says what needs to be said.

The plight of the Rotorua residents is deplorable. The state of the motels is inexcusable.

There is talk about new housing needed. If it was provided I can imagine what the state these new houses would be in, in a very short time. And all at the taxpayer's expense.

I am concerned where New Zealand is heading: a cesspit of crime and no respect for innocent citizens, who are working hard to make a living for themselves.

Jenny Bishop, Rotorua