majority perspectives were of those in this course paper, (in conversation with friends I am usually alone on this subject 😇). When I was part of the TPPA March in February earlier this year (TPPA NO WAY!🙌) I was standing on top of a bench watching a group of Māori men fully dressed in their cultural wear. As I was watching an older man stands up beside me and watches for a few seconds, then turns to me and says "Wow, those Maori's are pretty serious, huh. Making a lot of noise. Even dressed up and everything." kindly I responded "Well yeah, and so they should be. This is their land that they're fighting for"... He shoots back with "Oh, no no no. That's rubbish. We all live in New Zealand; they get enough special treatment as it it", and then walks off casually eating his sandwich before I could reply. (Yup. True story) I was caught off guard, as I didn't expect to come across someone who didn't appreciate that these people were voicing their rights, expressed through their Haka, and what did he mean by 'special treatment'?
Don't get me wrong every person who lives in New Zealand has every right to be treated fairly and equally. New Zealand alone has come a long way in improving race relations and addressing disparities between Māori and Pakeha. However problems with why Māori are not privileged trace to as far back as the 19th century, when the colonisation of New Zealand had severely stunned the socio-economic growth of Māori communities; and in the 20th century after World War II urbanisation had dug the hole deeper having a great impact on Maori and their culture (as well as social norm of 'brown labour' for both Maori and Pacific people.) Māori rights have only really begun to be recognised over the past 30 years. Under the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori signed with the British Crown, giving them special status as the native people of New Zealand, yet there was no legal privilege. Still today, Māori have the poorest welfare, health, education and justice outcomes in our country.
The New Zealand Attitudes Study (NZAVS) have done case studies over the years, which aims to gather resource (similar to 'World Values Survey') for New Zealand. This included a case study on 'The Multi-Dimensional Model of Māori and Cultural Engagement', which studied Māori identity and the factors which make Māori feel positive about themselves and Māori culture. An aspect from this study highlighted a socio-political conciousness which reflected how actively engaged the individual was in representing Māori rights in context with the Treaty of Waitangi. Many Māori expressed that they needed to support and be loyal to their group and remain politically unified, (mostly supporting Maori Party while opposing National Party) while other Māori peoples had reflected that they should operate independently; and the idea that Pakeha and Māori historical relations were unnecessary for understanding contemporary ways of being 'Māori'. Those who felt Māori should operate independently would generally endorse dominant political attitudes and ideological positions of sole-ethnic Europeans. Samples from their perspectives would comment: "Māori would be heaps better if they forgot about the past and just moved on" versus "Māori have been wronged in the past and we should stand up for what is Ours". I felt this highlighted that there was a small percentage of Māori who are starting to view themselves as 'inferior' to Pakeha, that is the consequence of years of racial dictatorship, and colonialism. In a sense revealing this notion of 'internalized' and 'naturalised' racism in New Zealand. Māori being discriminated for speaking their own language had shown to be hard on their culture alone.
Another case study by NZAVS explored 'Why and How we measure Racism, Sexism and other forms of Prejudice'. A question highlighted in the survey created caught media attention, had asked 'whether Kiwi's thought Māori got special treatment?' (That man I bumped into at the TPPA March, no doubt would have said Yes. 😑). Oscar Kightley (New Zealand actor/director) has responded to this question in an article by the Herald, with a sarcastic tone stating "Yes - of course they do, they're clearly all fed with a silver spoon and clothed in nappies of woven gold thread as soon as they begin their lives of privilege". (to which I absolutely agree with. have a read for yourself in first link provided below). If Māori have this so called special treatment, then why are most of them leaving New Zealand to Australia for a better lifestyle?
When in debate about 'Māori getting special treatment', a point that is commonly brought up is, 'Unlicensed Māori drivers caught behind the wheel got a chance to avoid the $400 fine. The New Zealand Police released a statement saying "It was part of their goal to reduce Maori offending". I agree that this was absolutely ridiculous (apart from the fact that people who break the law should face consequences like everyone else). But if we really looked this, we should look at the way institutions and systems of oppression are set up that Māori just do not benefit from. The fact that police thought this was helping 'Maori from offending' is just a sad excuse to ignore the reality that there isn't access and it is because of the injustice that is happening in education, poverty and society. It's also important to recognise that a big driver of crime is poverty, and often associate with those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
TPPA March in February http://nomit.com.au/mag/si-alza-londa-contro-il-tppa/
Don't get me wrong every person who lives in New Zealand has every right to be treated fairly and equally. New Zealand alone has come a long way in improving race relations and addressing disparities between Māori and Pakeha. However problems with why Māori are not privileged trace to as far back as the 19th century, when the colonisation of New Zealand had severely stunned the socio-economic growth of Māori communities; and in the 20th century after World War II urbanisation had dug the hole deeper having a great impact on Maori and their culture (as well as social norm of 'brown labour' for both Maori and Pacific people.) Māori rights have only really begun to be recognised over the past 30 years. Under the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori signed with the British Crown, giving them special status as the native people of New Zealand, yet there was no legal privilege. Still today, Māori have the poorest welfare, health, education and justice outcomes in our country.
The New Zealand Attitudes Study (NZAVS) have done case studies over the years, which aims to gather resource (similar to 'World Values Survey') for New Zealand. This included a case study on 'The Multi-Dimensional Model of Māori and Cultural Engagement', which studied Māori identity and the factors which make Māori feel positive about themselves and Māori culture. An aspect from this study highlighted a socio-political conciousness which reflected how actively engaged the individual was in representing Māori rights in context with the Treaty of Waitangi. Many Māori expressed that they needed to support and be loyal to their group and remain politically unified, (mostly supporting Maori Party while opposing National Party) while other Māori peoples had reflected that they should operate independently; and the idea that Pakeha and Māori historical relations were unnecessary for understanding contemporary ways of being 'Māori'. Those who felt Māori should operate independently would generally endorse dominant political attitudes and ideological positions of sole-ethnic Europeans. Samples from their perspectives would comment: "Māori would be heaps better if they forgot about the past and just moved on" versus "Māori have been wronged in the past and we should stand up for what is Ours". I felt this highlighted that there was a small percentage of Māori who are starting to view themselves as 'inferior' to Pakeha, that is the consequence of years of racial dictatorship, and colonialism. In a sense revealing this notion of 'internalized' and 'naturalised' racism in New Zealand. Māori being discriminated for speaking their own language had shown to be hard on their culture alone.
Another case study by NZAVS explored 'Why and How we measure Racism, Sexism and other forms of Prejudice'. A question highlighted in the survey created caught media attention, had asked 'whether Kiwi's thought Māori got special treatment?' (That man I bumped into at the TPPA March, no doubt would have said Yes. 😑). Oscar Kightley (New Zealand actor/director) has responded to this question in an article by the Herald, with a sarcastic tone stating "Yes - of course they do, they're clearly all fed with a silver spoon and clothed in nappies of woven gold thread as soon as they begin their lives of privilege". (to which I absolutely agree with. have a read for yourself in first link provided below). If Māori have this so called special treatment, then why are most of them leaving New Zealand to Australia for a better lifestyle?
When in debate about 'Māori getting special treatment', a point that is commonly brought up is, 'Unlicensed Māori drivers caught behind the wheel got a chance to avoid the $400 fine. The New Zealand Police released a statement saying "It was part of their goal to reduce Maori offending". I agree that this was absolutely ridiculous (apart from the fact that people who break the law should face consequences like everyone else). But if we really looked this, we should look at the way institutions and systems of oppression are set up that Māori just do not benefit from. The fact that police thought this was helping 'Maori from offending' is just a sad excuse to ignore the reality that there isn't access and it is because of the injustice that is happening in education, poverty and society. It's also important to recognise that a big driver of crime is poverty, and often associate with those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
If it wasn't clear enough, I feel that Māori do not have 'special treatment or privilege' and have been quite surprised to realise that I'm one few that feel this way. In fact I feel that it is the total opposite. My question would then be, exactly what 'special treatment' are you referring to?
Would love to hear about your views/perspectives on this subject!
To read more about Oscar Knightly's response click here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78033002/oscar-kightley-special-treatment-for-maori-yeah-right
To read more about Unlicesned Maori drivers avoiding $400 fine click here: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/exclusive-police-told-not-to-ticket-unlicenced-maori-drivers-in-south-auckland-6339517
To read more about the NZAVS click here: https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/psych/about/our-research/nzavs/NZAVSTechnicalDocuments/NZAVS-position-attitude-measurement.pdf
To read more about Unlicesned Maori drivers avoiding $400 fine click here: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/exclusive-police-told-not-to-ticket-unlicenced-maori-drivers-in-south-auckland-6339517
To read more about the NZAVS click here: https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/psych/about/our-research/nzavs/NZAVSTechnicalDocuments/NZAVS-position-attitude-measurement.pdf
The evidence of different cases you have used validate your argument, but the blog perhaps a bit too long! I read the entire text but would have been more engaged if it was shorter. Well done though
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting blog! Super thought provoking points and i totally agree with you. It's ridiculous that some people believe it's unfair that "they're getting special treatment"? But what they don't understand is that they're quite explicitly not. Like we've talked about with the ladder and how Maori (and POC) unfortunately start life on a lower rung for a number of reasons. I was trying to explain this to a white CIS male the other day, about how privileged he is because of that and he did not care to consider what I was saying at all. To which his girlfriend chimed in and said 'I mean i'm kinda racist and a little bit sexist so I understand where he's coming from.' TO WHICH I LEFT THE CONVERSATION.
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