Would banning smoking be racist to Māori

With the knowledge that smoking kills, the Government has continued to react to tobacco issues. The idea of banning smoking rather than another tax rise has come to the forefront yet again. Many have called this a racial issue, and that Maori are racially disadvantaged due to smoking being a ‘cultural’ practice. The idea of this is going to upset many, as they are addicted to the said substance. However by drawing the topic to an issue of racism, I believe that by doing this the media is trivialising the issue of Maori suffrage. I also think that this is, to a certain point, lowering the effectiveness of efforts of Maori activists over time.

There is the almost constant effort or lack of effort made my journalists to undermine Maori and to frame their attacks or feelings towards a certain issue as against the norms of the nation however I believe that as nations many would not want the outlawing of tobacco (not only Maori). And by doing this the journalists have taken the easy way and tried to create conflict between the indigenous people and the majority.