With the seemingly endless growth in the
Auckland property market everyday, the middle-class New Zealanders that are
desperate to get onto the property ladder, have been pointing fingers to whom
they believe is the culprit and the New Zealanders of Asian descent are the
target. Some say that this could be positive racism however if everybody of
Asian descent is being lumped together as wealthy offshore investors, who
aren’t “true” New Zealanders, and robbing the hard-working middle class of New
Zealand. This growing racism towards New Zealanders of Asian descent is fuelled
by the growing inequality between the top and bottom 10% of New Zealand. It Is
also reflected in stereotypes where crimes such as robbery are being committed
against Asian New Zealanders as many people are of the belief that ethnically
Asian New Zealanders carry large quantities of cash.
In my experience and talking to disheartened
potential buyers in New Zealand, particularly Aucklanders, the fingers always
pointed at the Asian ethnic group as
the catalyst of an inflow of vast amounts of
money which has been raising the prices of housing. However this is very racist
in assuming the fault lies solely with the individual buyers rather that
focusing on the governmental policies which have allowed this investment to
flourish. I believe the true problem as the unwillingness of the government in
power to take social action in protecting middle and lower class New Zealanders
with their quest to purchase a home. The responsibility of the government is
hardly debated in news media which often the first to take the lower route of
racialising the matter instead of dealing with the key fundamental problems of
insufficient housing for a growing city.
The government seems to be focused on predicting the economic
impacts rather than predicting the social impacts on its people and has shown a
lack of foresight towards the growing gap being created between identifiably
Asian individuals and what the media shows that as the majority Pakeha society,
as an entire generation is priced out of the housing market. The resentment is
overwhelmingly and surprisingly towards people of Asian descent rather than the
individuals who create legislation which allowed the market to be saturated.
I agree with your statement that "The government seems to be focused on predicting the economic impacts rather than predicting the social impacts" but the proposal that you seem to be making is also problematic. If the government created laws that prohibited offshore investment in the housing market and promoted 'Pakeha/Maori' home buying then the racial issues would be reversed, not fixed. The issues that need the most attention are immigration and urbanization policies. By addressing these issues the government would be able to create longer lasting change with smaller social/racial backlash.
ReplyDeleteShown in the media when we see as many as 10 people of Asian descent clumped into one apartment it is seen as a smart investment whereas a 'brown' family in the same position is a predicament that we need to end as soon as possible.
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