Post by Kiwi Frontline on Oct 6, 2019 4:51:38 GMT 12
TURNING THE CLOCK BACK MAKES A TRAGEDY OF THE PRESENT FOR MĀORI
Dr Rata then raised the issue of separate Māori wards on local government bodies. She claimed that there was a need for radical constitutional transformation in New Zealand as the current foundations of society are based on "settler colonial ideology". Non-Māori Zealanders are not colonial settlers or visitors. If born here they are Tangata Whenua, natives of New Zealand, and the sooner some activists get their heads around that fact the better.
If ever there was an indication that most Māori do not want separate representation it was the last general election when the Māori Party was expelled from Parliament by Māori voters. Co-leaders Te Ururoa Flavell and Marama Fox were effective independent voices for Māoridom but their voices will no longer be heard.
There are however equally effective Māori MPs in general seats and that should not be a surprise to anyone. Māori have also undertaken every role in modern society from governors general down and they needed no special treatment to get there. If we look hard enough we will find racism, scary monsters and excuses for failure anywhere we choose to look.
We don't need Māori wards, we need Māori candidates to put their names forward for election and we need Māori to vote for them. With the traditional apathy of all voters in local body elections a determined effort by Māori could win them many seats but special treatment simply because they are Māori perpetuates the patronising colonial attitude which Dr Rata and many others, myself included, find so objectionable.
We know there were shockingly cruel impositions on Māori and we know it takes many generations to recover from dispossession and oppression but that process is now well advanced.
We also know many other Māori welcomed colonisation and fought with the British during the Land Wars which were far from simple Māori versus British conflicts. Successive governments have put a massive effort into addressing those wrongs and there some way to go.
Dr Rata is not helping Māori by trying to relive the tragedies of the past as perpetual victims..........
www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/opinion/116275250/turning-the-clock-back-makes-a-tragedy-of-the-present-for-mori
Dr Rata then raised the issue of separate Māori wards on local government bodies. She claimed that there was a need for radical constitutional transformation in New Zealand as the current foundations of society are based on "settler colonial ideology". Non-Māori Zealanders are not colonial settlers or visitors. If born here they are Tangata Whenua, natives of New Zealand, and the sooner some activists get their heads around that fact the better.
If ever there was an indication that most Māori do not want separate representation it was the last general election when the Māori Party was expelled from Parliament by Māori voters. Co-leaders Te Ururoa Flavell and Marama Fox were effective independent voices for Māoridom but their voices will no longer be heard.
There are however equally effective Māori MPs in general seats and that should not be a surprise to anyone. Māori have also undertaken every role in modern society from governors general down and they needed no special treatment to get there. If we look hard enough we will find racism, scary monsters and excuses for failure anywhere we choose to look.
We don't need Māori wards, we need Māori candidates to put their names forward for election and we need Māori to vote for them. With the traditional apathy of all voters in local body elections a determined effort by Māori could win them many seats but special treatment simply because they are Māori perpetuates the patronising colonial attitude which Dr Rata and many others, myself included, find so objectionable.
We know there were shockingly cruel impositions on Māori and we know it takes many generations to recover from dispossession and oppression but that process is now well advanced.
We also know many other Māori welcomed colonisation and fought with the British during the Land Wars which were far from simple Māori versus British conflicts. Successive governments have put a massive effort into addressing those wrongs and there some way to go.
Dr Rata is not helping Māori by trying to relive the tragedies of the past as perpetual victims..........
www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/opinion/116275250/turning-the-clock-back-makes-a-tragedy-of-the-present-for-mori