Comments on: "Isn't being Maori awesome? We've got no land, we've got no money but man, have we got mana."

By: Elly

Elly — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:21:10 +0000

@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! :)

By: Al_Pal

Al_Pal — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:34:00 +0000

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

By: Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com

Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:00:54 +0000

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.

By: Elly

Elly — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:45:09 +0000

@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! :)

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:36:06 +0000

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.

By: Elly

Elly — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:30:21 +0000

@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 :)

By: Kym

Kym — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:22:21 +0000

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.

By: Elly

Elly — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:25:18 +0000

@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 :)

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:15:31 +0000

Well put …

“Oh, sure, Maori arenâ€™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.

By: Elly

Elly — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:38:34 +0000

@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.