Race: The way ahead: Messages from the melting pot

Auckland's multicultural minorities have been interested bystanders in the debate about the future of biculturalism. Herald reporters sought their views.


In the ethnic melting-pot suburbs of Auckland, the words "Don Brash" have little meaning.

"Who's he?" asks Lenore Apolinalio, 22, a part-time cash services worker of Tokelauan, Tuvaluan, Samoan and Chinese descent. Her response is typical of dozens of Samoans, Tongans, Indians, Chinese and other minorities approached about the race relations debate. Most have no idea who Brash is or any awareness of the debate he triggered.

Many seem embarrassed or ashamed that they don't know what the questions are about. In Mangere, at least half wave away our reporters, saying they don't speak English or don't know enough about the topic."We don't read the papers or watch the news" is a common refrain.

Many have lived here for several years, but know very little about the Treaty of Waitangi - some have not heard of it.

In Mt Roskill, many are unable to speak English, or at least not enough for a discussion of race relations. Most who agree to talk believe state aid should be given according to need, not race.

But, as with Pakeha and Maori in our earlier surveys, our reporters encountered this paradox: while many believe assistance should be needs-based, they think extra help for Maori, as the tangata whenua, is justified in some areas.

Immigration consultant James Prassad, 54, is succinct. "Why should we have race? Everybody is equal. There should not be an advantage."

Prassad, a Fijian Indian whose family settled in New Zealand about 50 years ago, believes Maori receive special treatment in land issues, the seabed and schooling.

Ala Mohammed Ali, 33, a medical interpreter and Iraqi refugee, says basing state aid on ethnicity is "dividing the people".

"To talk all the time about race you will create problems rather than solve them. People talking about their lost legacy, their lost rights, their forebears, massacres, is creating hatred," says Mohammed Ali, who is now a New Zealand citizen.

Of the treaty he says: "I think it's amazing. It's scripture."

But he is unsure of its details and objects to the idea it might underpin advantage for Maori, for example, in health.

"Health is not a luxury. It's basic. Basic things should be allocated for all people in equal manner."

Katherine Liu, 35, a clothing saleswoman who migrated from China last year, expresses similar sentiments."Race and colour is not a priority thing. When you're born, it's nature. But if you have ability you should develop well. Society should ensure equal chance."

In the Mangere shopping centre, Pacific Island immigrants agree. "We are all together, everyone is equal," one 43-year-old Samoan woman says.

New Zealand-born Tongan William Toluatu, 20, says state assistance should be needs-based and Maori "do not really" deserve more than others. "It has to be fair on everyone."

Despite this, many acknowledge that Maori are the indigenous people in New Zealand and should be treated accordingly.

"They were the founders of the land so should get special treatment," says Sarita Gasio, a 28-year-old Tokelauan-Samoan, who has been in New Zealand for four years.

Tania, 24, a Tongan masters student: "I think there are areas Maori are entitled to some extra support as they are tangata whenua ... and a lot of Maori are at the low socio-economic level."

The Treaty of Waitangi, she says, is still relevant. "If you take it right back it was their land and we've just come along."

Roy Zheng, 41, a citizen since 1991, believes we should all be treated the same - but Maori deserve extra. "I think of course they need some special [assistance] because they own this place first since coming here."

Syad Raza, a Pakistani cab driver here for seven years, has studied the treaty and believes it is still relevant today "because [Maori] have rights - Maori belong to this country".

Both Pacific Island and Asian immigrants point to Maori unemployment and low education levels as a justification for extra assistance.

A 69-year-old retired pastor, who came to New Zealand from the Cook Islands in 1958, favours educational assistance, but is strongly against cash handouts. Like Cook Islanders, some Maori are good and some are bad, he says. "The more money you give to them, the more money they can use to go to the pub."

Sreenivasa Talluri, 37, from India, doesn't think Maori get special treatment but says they should, especially in education, to improve their ability to get good jobs.

"I don't see much people [Maori] in good jobs. They have low-level jobs. I feel let them have good education and good job opportunities."

Yi Chen, a 27-year-old resident of three years from China, says without help Maori could lose important aspects of their culture, such as their language.

Most Pacific Islanders who spoke to the Weekend Herald know little about what the Treaty of Waitangi actually says, but believe the document is important and relevant. As a 16-year-old Tongan high school pupil puts it, the treaty is important because it is a New Zealand thing: "It's history. It's really important for us to know."

Lenore Apolinalio, who professed ignorance about Don Brash, agrees. "It's important to Maori ... It's really important to all of us. It's respect."

One Samoan teenager, Maila Leniu, who came to New Zealand about eight years ago, believes Maori deserve some extra help, but he feels that enough is enough.

"Sometimes they are asking for a bit more, and they've already got more."

Another Samoan, a 33-year-old process worker and student, sums up the general consensus. "Everybody is equal and they should all get the same ... but there is a special case for Maori. They are the indigenous people."

While he sympathises with Maori aspirations, he doesn't want their most radical demands to be met. "If we had it their way, I don't think [New Zealand] would be like this ... In my view, all the immigrants like myself would be thrown out."

However, a range of Asian immigrants say the treaty should be limited in time, or be changed.

New Zealand is multicultural now, says Radhika Komalla, an insurance underwriter from India. She has been here 3 1/2 years and is a new citizen.

"It's not only Maoris [here] like before."

James Prassad says the treaty should be irrelevant "because it's a multicultural country. Everybody should have equal rights."

Devi Mada, 29, a customer services agent who migrated to New Zealand in 2002, says: "New Zealand is encouraging immigration. [Assistance] shouldn't be on the basis of race. If people are in need then they should be given assistance."

Emil Trandafir, 45, a taxi driver who migrated from Romania last year, opposes race-based aid. In his 10 months in New Zealand he says he has noticed special treatment for Maori in health and income support.

"They have more rights than other people. It's not normal from my point of view."

But he is also definite in his view that with regard to the treaty "when you sign something you must honour it". He does not know, he admits, what is in the treaty.

Reporting team: Angela Gregory, Martin Johnston, Diana McCurdy, Catherine Masters