Maori after Brash: Readers respond

Herald readers respond to Maori after Brash, the second of our three-part Herald series on race in New Zealand, published on Saturday.


The conundrum exposed in your poll of Maori opinion, whereby a majority of Maori support special treatment in the areas of parliamentary representation, health and education, yet also favour Maori being treated no differently from other New Zealanders, has a relatively simple explanation.

There is clearly a gross misunderstanding over what "special treatment" means in a generalised sense and what it means when applied to a particular situation. As long as this confusion exists we are in for interesting times. - Graeme Barlow, Howick

* * *

Herbie from Cambridge: "I don't think they understand what it is like to be Maori." Florence Tumai: "Pakeha don't understand Maori spirituality." Dan Nathan: "Maori culture makes New Zealand unique and the Maori people are that culture."

Right, right, right. It is not only Maori culture that makes New Zealand unique, but it would be a societal and historical travesty if it were to die.

But it is Maori, who have heard the oral traditions, have te reo, and understand marae protocol, who must preserve it, with acquiescence from Pakeha. Most Pakeha are trying to survive in the modern world by looking outwards and forwards rather than inwards and backwards.

This is a secular country, with freedom of and from religion. It is helpful to understand Maori spirituality, but not compulsory.

In a democracy good health, education, employment, longevity and happiness should be the birthright of all. Civic responsibilities rest on us all. These are the goals Maori and Pakeha must pursue together. - Nigel Christian, Sandringham

* * *

"Maori after Brash." The very headlines are inflammatory. What I see is the media frenzy to point out race-biased reactions of a few.

Words such as "Brash should be taken out - he doesn't know what he is talking about" are damaging the race relations equilibrium. He certainly knows far more than the accuser, as Brash is one of few politicians who was successful in his private life before being Leader of the Opposition.

What your paper is omitting is the forgotten races of this nation, which outnumber Maori in New Zealand: the combined Polynesian races; Indians; Chinese. Yet news media keep referring this speech as a Maori v Pakeha issue.

Brash omitted to comment that his "on-need basis" will not change anything, as it will be Maori getting the help as they are mostly the ones in need.

Let's keep this a Kiwi society with a dash of colour of all races and a Maori culture as a key ingredient that keeps us a great nation. - Tonci Marinovic, Parnell

* * *

I was very impressed with your article on Maori speaking out on the way they see themselves in New Zealand.

The way through this issue is full and free education of all our children regardless of race and socio-economic grouping. Maori immersion schooling is fine to me, as a Pakeha. As a parent I respect the right of any parent to choose the type of education they perceive is best for their child.

If children are arriving at school malnourished or undernourished then feed them. Arrange for doctors to be available. If kids are having babies then nurture them and find a way of keeping them at school with their babies.

It isn't rocket science, it is just directing funding where it will have the best long-term outcome for the future generations of this country. - Christine Barnes, Parnell

* * *

Thank heavens for the good sense and balance of your columnist Gordon McLauchlan among all the verbiage that has flowed in the wake of the Don Brash speech. How it helps to have someone with a knowledge of our history and a world view to put things into perspective. McLauchlan for Prime Minister, I say. - Peter Smith, Devonport

* * *

As I read all the comments of the self-interested groups you solicited for the report in Saturday's paper, it became ever more clear that Brash was right: race-based laws are wrong.

A race-based law, in respect of Maori, includes both ends of the wealth spectrum, from the very poor to the incredibly rich. It therefore naturally follows that race-based laws do not address the needy New Zealanders. Non-race-based laws do.

It's that simple, or it was until self-interest crept into the argument. - Len Ross, Gold Coast, Australia

* * *

I have just returned from a week in the Urewera National Park, where we shared a hut with several Maori on a recreational hunting trip.

The younger person, in his late teens or early 20s, despite being obviously fit and healthy and in the words of my colleague, "bright enough to be a university professor", was evidently content to be unemployed, presumably on the dole, in his home town in the Bay of Plenty.

Is this the future for bright, able-bodied young Maori foreseen by the great Maori leaders of yesteryear like Sir Apirana Ngata and Sir Maui Pomare? Can the country afford this waste of human potential, encouraged, as it is, by governments too politically correct to actually care? - Mark Smale, Hamilton

* * *

Dr Brash has provided a much-needed service to many New Zealanders in spelling out so clearly the relative positions of Pakeha and Maori in New Zealand education.

It is unfortunate that, in spite of protest from all universities, a slur has been cast on the achievements of hundreds of Maori graduates and in doing so lessened their employment opportunities.

I expect Dr Brash will have a remedy for this later and look forward to hearing it. - Doreen Farrimond, Birkenhead

* * *

Your articles on people's reactions to Dr Brash's comments have been very well researched and written. The interviewees thoughtfully expressed themselves. It is obvious that we want equality and that we think we are working successfully toward that, although there are still some gaps that need filling.

The debate is showing us positively for what we truly are - just honest to goodness people who want the best for anyone, especially for those in need.

I certainly do not think it is fair that Maori die 10 years earlier than others. I ask why. If a society is to be judged by how well it takes care of its neediest people, then how can any of us allow this inequitable situation to go on?

That is what Brash should be asking himself. Instead, he is looking for more mud-slinging reactions. National does not seem to have any answers to propose, does it? - Dianne Haist, Palmerston North

* * *

I am not fazed at all to be called Pakeha, and I don't think the average Maori (if there is such a thing) gives a bugger what we wear around our necks at school, or anywhere else for that matter. It is only anal retentive Pakeha who make these stupid rules. So stop blaming Maori. - D.E. Morgan, Taupo

* * *

We are now told that teachers are the main cause for Maori failure in schools as Maori struggle in the classroom because of their cultural and social backgrounds.

Perhaps if each subject was taught in rap mode or if rap immersion lessons were introduced it might pave the way for better stimulation and learning. - J. McMillan, Swanson

* * *

I take great offence at Parekura Horomia's implying that we whiteys have no spiritual attachment to the beach.

My culture has gods of the sea and many legends and myths associated with the ocean. My ancestors travelled for months on end across the ocean in search of new lands, just as Maori did.

Many of my friends have been married on the beach because they choose it as a place of spiritual meaning. My own mother's ashes are spread under a pohutukawa tree at a very sacred place on the east coast of the Coromandel.

When I visit my local beach in Northland I find myself cleaning up after local Maori leave beer bottles and disposable nappies on the beachfront reserve. I'm not making this up, I see it happen before my eyes. Is this the way they show their spiritual attachment to the beach?

The only people I see taking what little is left of the kai moana are these locals. It needs preserving and they seem to have no idea or don't care how desperate the situation is.

If I based my assumptions on Maori culture just from these observations I would assume the beach held no spiritual significance for them.

Parekura Horomia needs to think before he makes ignorant assumptions about my culture. If he started walking along a few more beaches, talking to the people there and helping to keep them clean like I do, he might start showing more awareness of the real meaning of the coast to other New Zealanders. - J. Grierson, Kerikeri

* * *

In reply to Bobby Pairama's assertion that Maori are the owners of New Zealand I would suggest that "The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." Psalm 24:1. - Joan Yarrow, Howick

* * *

Regarding this Maori-Pakeha thing it seems to me that there is a lot of sheer and unadulterated ignorance coming from both sides.

We have red-necked Pakeha lumping all Maori together as welfare-dependent lazy layabouts and we have Maori activists accusing all Pakeha as colonial imperialistic grabbers.

As one Maori professor said on television, let's look at facts and not emotional and hearsay opinions.

I am English-born, landing here at the age of 4 in 1928 and am proud of my English ancestry. My late brother-in-law was a descendant of a Maori queen and proud of it. I understand Maori being proud of their race and ancestry.

If the bloke next door to me has reasonable standards of ethics and behaviour I don't care if he is brown, yellow or black, he is a fellow human being and a fellow New Zealander.

So let' s stop all this racial nonsense now before it gets nasty - Gerard Welford, Manurewa.


Herald Feature: Sharing a Country