May
- Mabel Wharekawa-Burt.
Earlier this week there was Hikoi to protest the lack of Maori Seats in the new Super-City local government. There was some protest at work today, too. Why did Maori feel the need to do this? They aren’t special, there are a billion other cultures within Auckland now, do they all need special seats? What a waste of time, they said. We’re all New Zealanders now, they should be represented just like the rest of us.
I carefully ignored this kind of talk, not wanting to get into a debate out of my league. But I wish I hadn’t kept quiet. I wish I had spoken up.
The Hioki wasn’t just about the seats. It was about Maori being heard, and having a voice on the new council. It was about preserving the culture, and the history. It was about preserving the native culture unique to New Zealand, in modern society.
Oh, sure, Maori aren’t the only minority in New Zealand. Not even by a long shot. But we are the only ones native to New Zealand. No where else in the world will you hear the Maori Language spoken. No where else will you find the Maori history, or the culture. Sure, New Zealand is full of other cultures. But all those other cultures are native to somewhere else, another country, another island, another place. Those other cultures thrive both here, and in their native country. And all those other cultures haven’t fought in New Zealand like the Maori have. They haven’t been discriminated against in New Zealand like the Maori have. They haven’t had their New Zealand land taken away, or been punished for speaking their language in New Zealand like the Maori was. They haven’t had their culture turned over to the tourist trade, like in Rotorua. They haven’t fought like we have, and continue to do.
I’m not getting down on the other minorities. Many of them have fought their own battles, I’m sure. And we welcome them to New Zealand, and respect them and their culture in their own right. It is not a case of us or them. It is a case of preserving the culture unique, and native to New Zealand.
Liz messaged me, after reading about it on the news. She said she was proud to be Maori. Proud that we, as a people, were out there on the streets being heard. That we were fighting for the right to preserve, and live the Maori way in New Zealand, and fighting for fair representation on the new council. That we weren’t taking the removal of Maori Seats quietly. And I was proud too, to be a part of that movement. I was also proud that there were Non-Maori in the hikoi, supporting us, and our voice.
Still, I wish I had spoken up at work. Some debates are worth getting involved in. Even if you can’t explain it as eloquently as required. Sometimes it’s just the standing up that counts.
Nesian Mystik – Lost Visions
Here’s an insight to a time, You gotta step back to before the springbok tours
Where social circumstance, conditioned minds
Had to adapt to survive, our people in the frontlines
Now Maori response a resistance, A form to challenge to system
Nga tamatoa had heads on the line, Maori language they potitioned
Suffered they did, ignorant of implications
Ostrasized, against what they knew was wrong
For what they knew was right, The blood shed flowing tears
Bearing scars from the years, Cant even explain the entirety of what they did
Connections pierced of the past into the land
Wounded links between those gone
And who now stands
We do remember (Bastion Point)
We do remember (Parihaka)
We do remember (Waitangi)
We do remember
So comprehend, yes comprehend the 10 seconds before
Because the line is never straight
No, no, no it ain’t ever straight
And it ain’t ever what you saw
Wouldn’t you call them soldiers
Wouldn’t you bow your head
Wouldn’t you raise your hands
Instead of closing your ears
Wouldn’t you seek their knowledge yes
Wouldn’t you wake the dead yes
Wouldn’t you applaud the cause yes
Instead of fearing what is yes
I definitely agree with this – it’s similar to the issues that Metis people in Canada face. You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone, even just saying “I’m Maori and I don’t want to get into it, but I definitely disagree with you” would probably shock your co-workers just enough to get their brains working again.
This is why having the majority decide on minority rights doesn’t make sense, it’s not possible for everyone to totally understand, but they should be respectful. Sheesh. Some people’s children!
@Kyla – Oh <3 for your comment, I’m so glad you agree. I guess this a fight fought by minorities everywhere. And you’re completely right, respect is what’s needed, even if you don’t necessarily understand the culture or the history.
Well put …
“Oh, sure, Maori aren’t the only minority in New Zealand. Not even by a long shot. But we are the only ones native to New Zealand.”
I guess that’s really all it boils down to. A lot of “culture” has been lost in other minorities as the old adage of “learn the language that feeds you” dictates their lives. It is irrefutable that language and culture are tightly intertwined. When one is lost the other quickly follows.
NZ Maori are unique to NZ. We all should be proud of that fact regardless of whether we are Maori or not.
@Simon – thanks for your comment. I’d much rather Maori staged protests than let our language and culture be lost. I also think there are alot of Non-Maori that support Maori having a voice – the crowd that walked in the Hikoi was multi-cultural, and I love that it was :)
a lot of times, i make excuses saying ” i dont know too much about it so i’m just not gonna bother ” but you’re right, sometimes its jsut standing up that counts :) great post.
@Kym – thanks! I’m often in the same boat as you, I don’t want to get into a debate or argument with someone if I don’t know alot about the issue, but I still wish I’d said something yesterday, just so the people at work knew that I supported the other side. It brings the issue closer to home if you know that people you know, live with, work with, whatever, support an issue. Thanks for your comment :)
You’re Maori? That’s awesome! I don’t mean in some kind of “other” way, but my husband is absolutely intellectually enamored with the Maori. He’s Hawaiian, and interested in a variety of Pacific Islanders, but it’s his biggest dream to move to New Zealand and study Maori anthropologically–I think he feels a connection to the Maori, since Hawaiians have also had their language and land taken over/destroyed. We actually looked into immigration a year ago, but it was soooo expensive we decided to look into once we actually have jobs and everything.
@Stephanie – I am! And no problem, I get what you mean. I think it’s pretty awesome :) And yeah, I think there are a few minorities out there who had their land/language/culture squished when settlers with guns showed up. I think Maori are pretty lucky, we had a revival in the 1960′s, so we’re in a better place than we were. A place where staging a 6k strong HiKoi is possible :) And oh! If you DO come to to NZ, let me know! I’d love to met you guys! :)
Wow. I tried to respond to this, but it turned into a 70 page thesis, and then I think the computer ate it.
So suffice to say: I agree to some extent and disagree to some extent as well. And that is that. We’ll see if I have the energy to write another 70 page thesis sometime soon. Lol.
I really appreciate this. I concluded awhile ago, re: gay and other minority rights, that it really is personalizing the minority that is so important. Once ‘the majority’ gets to know someone as an individual, they can’t cling to stereotypes. (Hopefully!)
& I think that having mana is awesome, for sure. ;p
(I also think that NZ is, and the Maori people & culture are; awesome!)
I shall look forward to getting to know you better in the future. So glad Miss pointed to you! :D
@Sarah – Oh! I would have loved to have read what you wrote, it’s such a multi-faceted concept that has alot of a feeling behind it really – everyone thinks or feels different depending on who they are, where they come from, what they’ve been through etc etc etc. It’s totally not a black and white thing, and I love that there are so many opinions and ideas about it (even if some of them are totally opposite to what I think). I think your right though, to agree and disagree somewhat. :)
@Al – Thanks! I agree that personalising is important, but that doesn’t mean that people will value the minority, you know? Sometimes it’s important because it exists, because it IS a minority, you know? And it’s important to preserve that culture and that history . . . or at least I think so. Thanks for your comment hey, I’m glad that you think NZ (and the Maori) are Teh Awesome! :)