Post by Kiwi Frontline on Apr 4, 2024 4:53:17 GMT 12
NATIONAL IWI CHAIRS TANGATA WHENUA CAUCUS WITHDRAWS FROM NATIONAL ACTION PLAN AGAINST RACISM
Mandated representatives of the National Iwi Chairs Forum have formally withdrawn from the working group for a National Action Plan Against Racism, noting that the current government is “clearly committed to colonial racism and in particular, targeted racism against Māori”.
“Our government has signalled changes to the plan, including a reduced focus on institutional racism and colonial racism against Māori, which would render the plan pointless as all instances of personal racism result from the institutional racism of our society” says Tina Ngata, Tangata Whenua caucus member. “Our committee have met and collectively decided that we will not be moving forward with the government’s proposed plan amendments. We are not interested in providing this government with a tool that it will use to cloak its own racism, particularly the very targeted racism it is exhibiting towards Māori. The signalled shifts demonstrate not only the commitment of this government to maintaining colonial racism against Māori, but how important anti-Māori racism is to this government”.
The concerns were echoed by caucus member Linda Tuhiwai Smith, who stated that “by singling Māori out as a group, our language and culture, this government are demonstrating how deeply their colonial attitudes still run”.
National President of the Māori Womens Welfare League and caucus member, Dr Hope Tupara, reiterated a press release from the League in December 2023 by stating that “League members will not silently sit by while our work on legacy issues suffer erosion by government apathy on racism – e kore ngā mema o Te Rōpu Wāhine Māori Toko i te Ora e whakaāe ana i ngā pēhitanga e pēnei ana.
National Iwi Chairs Forum member and Pou Tikanga lead, Professor Margaret Mutu, said “Every single government in this county has relied upon racism to not only strip us of our resources, but also keep us in a subservient space, and in service of colonial privilege.”....
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2404/S00012/national-iwi-chairs-tangata-whenua-caucus-withdraws-from-national-action-plan-against-racism.htm
Mandated representatives of the National Iwi Chairs Forum have formally withdrawn from the working group for a National Action Plan Against Racism, noting that the current government is “clearly committed to colonial racism and in particular, targeted racism against Māori”.
“Our government has signalled changes to the plan, including a reduced focus on institutional racism and colonial racism against Māori, which would render the plan pointless as all instances of personal racism result from the institutional racism of our society” says Tina Ngata, Tangata Whenua caucus member. “Our committee have met and collectively decided that we will not be moving forward with the government’s proposed plan amendments. We are not interested in providing this government with a tool that it will use to cloak its own racism, particularly the very targeted racism it is exhibiting towards Māori. The signalled shifts demonstrate not only the commitment of this government to maintaining colonial racism against Māori, but how important anti-Māori racism is to this government”.
The concerns were echoed by caucus member Linda Tuhiwai Smith, who stated that “by singling Māori out as a group, our language and culture, this government are demonstrating how deeply their colonial attitudes still run”.
National President of the Māori Womens Welfare League and caucus member, Dr Hope Tupara, reiterated a press release from the League in December 2023 by stating that “League members will not silently sit by while our work on legacy issues suffer erosion by government apathy on racism – e kore ngā mema o Te Rōpu Wāhine Māori Toko i te Ora e whakaāe ana i ngā pēhitanga e pēnei ana.
National Iwi Chairs Forum member and Pou Tikanga lead, Professor Margaret Mutu, said “Every single government in this county has relied upon racism to not only strip us of our resources, but also keep us in a subservient space, and in service of colonial privilege.”....
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2404/S00012/national-iwi-chairs-tangata-whenua-caucus-withdraws-from-national-action-plan-against-racism.htm