Maori Politics

[kamus]

On an another thread where Americans discussed politics and their reasons for leaving, someone said that Maori politics were a big issue in NZ.
I'm curious as to what the current state of Maori politics is in NZ.

One of the things I've alsways heard about NZ was that the Maori were better intergrated into post-colonial society better than in other countries (notably Oz) and that was a selling point on NZ, albeit a minor one. While Maori integration may be better than elsewhere, I gather that racism (that ancient bugaboo ) is alive and well.

Do the Maori still have a lot of resentment towards the settlers? Are they actively discriminated against? Just trying to put together as complete a picture as possible of NZ life. We realize that no place is without its warts and here in the US we're certainly no stranger to racism, but in the so called civilised 21st century it's a crying shame that it exists anywhere at all.

-Dave

[Tony & Norma]

Hi all,

One slant on this issue............

Whilst I was in NZ in 2002 I spoke to a black guy born and raised in South Africa. He had emigrated/escaped to the UK back in the early sixties and then on to NZ in the mid seventies.

As one half of a mixed race couple I was interested in whether or not he and his family had experienced racism in NZ as I know he had here in the UK and for sure in South Africa.

His comment was simply ' There ain't no racism here mate' !

From his perspective obviously.


Tony

[Radders]

There is a major hoohaa at the mo over the foreshore.
I will be showing my lack of understanding here, but here goes:

The maori have certain rights under the treaty that enable them to continue their use of certain parts of nz, such as the gathering of shell fish etc on public land, even where it is banned for others to take.
The government want to put an amendment in that turns the forshore over to them some how.
I'm sure this is completely wrong, but the topic is causing an almighty stink at the mo.
The integration of europeans and maori compared with other country's where europeans colonised is remarkable. I know this first hand as my wife has maori ancestry.
However there are indeed problems, like in most other countries.
There has also been a huge surge in the reclaiming of heritage that was almost lost, and this has brought much more understanding and an embracing of nz's cultural roots for all.

[veronica]

while I agree with everyones cultural roots type of thing I am a bit cynical as most of the areas being claimed are prime real estate or have tremendous tourist potential.

[Diny]

Veronica

You've hit the nail right on the head there girlie !!!!!!!

This thread has the potential of becoming far too politically volitile (sp) so I'll make that my one and only comment and sit back and read with interest other peoples opinions.

Diny

[Radders]

Veronica,
I did not mean that giving the maori the forshore, helped all nzers embrace their roots!!
I know too little about the subject.
I only meant to inform people that it was the major topic at the mo.

Well that and renaming NZ Aoterea - New Zealand :P :P

[Timbo]

Two Maoris in a pub. One asks the other "have you got Sky? yet?"
"Na, were waiting to get the forshore first".

It`s a heavy topic in the land of the long white cloud, thats for sure.

[ruthyroo]

Glad this topic has come up - it doesn't very often on these boards.

Racism is definitely alive and kicking here in NZ from all sides, and no-one comes out of it very well. I have found attitudes of whites to all other races that would fit better in 60's britain and language that is straight from the script of 'love thy neighbour' seems to be acceptable, especially among older UK immigrants. To generalise hugely, the pakeha look down on the maori and call them thieving scum, the maori resent the pakeha and tell them to get off their land, while everyon gets together to hate the asians (see john's story on the migrant stories).

I work in local government here in NZ, and there is certainly a huge and increasing emphasis from the government that tangata whenua (people of the land, i.e. maori) are to be consulted (and more) on a whole range of land use, development and management issues. In some cases, this goes as far as returning ownership of land / water / resources to maori that have been 'proven' to have been taken unfairly in the past (do a search on the Treaty of Waitangi for background on this). Here in Rotorua, the lakes are (almost certainly) to be returned to the local iwi, te Arawa, and it is causing a helluva stink. Local pakeha are sure that once Te arawa have ownership of the lakes, they will in the future decide to charge for access - which is currently free to all for swimming, fishing, kayaking etc. It''s similar to the foreshore bill - which is being pushed through slowly but surely. And yes a lot of these places have huge commercial potential - si there is a lot of suspicion from pakeha to maori motivation.

I would agree that maori in NZ have been better dealt with that, say, aborigines in Oz, but that's not really saying much! What is different is that the Maori are politically mobilised and highly effective campaigners, and there is an increasing number of well educated, vocal maori who are pushing these agendas forward. Whether the financial benefits are actually going to be passed onto the disenfranchised maori living in poverty and crime in south Aukland is another question entirely...

[Timbo]

Excellent post Ruthyroo, thanks.

[kamus]

Am I correct in assuming that the term "paheka" refers to the white settlers?

-Dave