Yachting 'closed shop' to Maori

COWES - Maori are "locked out" of big boat yachting, says culture specialist Pita Sharples, who wants the sport to set up scholarships to help young Maori into sailing.

He has challenged the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Team New Zealand to devise a scholarship programme for young Maori.

The squadron has been guardian of the America's Cup since 1995, when Team New Zealand won it from the United States.

Dr Sharples wants both organisations to "create opportunities to combat the socio-economic barriers which exist in yachting".

"We are sailors, we have a sailing history, yet socio-economically - not just socio-economically but socially - we are being locked out," he said in the British yachting mecca of Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, where he was part of the Maori ceremonial party that ushered the cup back to its birthplace at the weekend.

"You got to talk the same language, you got to shop at Smith and Caughey, do all those sort of things to sit in the Tamaki Yacht Club or the Kohimarama Yacht Club," he said.

"You can't just plonk in there and say, 'Oh, I had a good hui at the marae today, you know.' You've got to sit there and enjoy sitting there."

Dr Sharples said yacht squadron commodore Peter Taylor and Team New Zealand tactician Tom Schnackenberg had invited him to get in touch when he returned home.

Team New Zealand said it liked working with Maoridom and described the relationship as fantastic. It used occasions like Cowes to showcase Maori culture and spirit.

However, Dr Sharples said Maori could contribute far more than they were being allowed to, even in sailing.

"I reckon there's a dimension that they've still got to learn, and that's bordering on the spiritual side with the water. I believe that can only enhance [Team New Zealand].

"We bless all the boats, we put little things on it, but it's so surface compared to what's available.

"I believe that Maori could contribute ... But the skill level and the knowledge is virtually nonexistent in big boat racing."

He also used the high-profile event to criticise the way Maori were used in tourism promotions.

Tourism New Zealand has a strong presence in Cowes, with the cup displayed in its waterfront pavilion.

"Back home there is still an ignorance in the role Maori could play in selling the country," Dr Sharples said. "We are stuck with our Queenstown, and our golf links and our one visit to a hotel which has a haka team.

"We are so entrenched in that we can't see the possibilities. All these people here can see it. It's dumb, it's bad economics, it's bad everything."

Ironically, the outside of the Tourism New Zealand pavilion at Cowes bears a large poster of a Maori hongi.

Dr Sharples was unimpressed.

"I think well, well, well, when they want to drag us out they drag us out. Government has been very, very Westminster ... It's not creative at all."

Tourism New Zealand's UK/Europe regional manager, Barry Eddington, said the Maori image was strong in Britain.

"It is the icon image for New Zealand. It has been very predominant and very popular.

"The Maori experience in New Zealand is a very important part of the New Zealand experience."

- NZPA

Feature: America's Cup