Anton Blank, Author at E-Tangata

From the periphery into the centre

Posted by Anton Blank | Nov 9, 2025 | Reflections

“I had naïvely assumed that as we marched towards social freedom and equity for all, the benefits of these social changes would be self-explanatory, and conservative resistance would dissipate and eventually disappear, like a kind of natural evolutionary extinction.” — Anton Blank.

Unintentionally complicit

Posted by Anton Blank | Mar 2, 2025 | Comment & Analysis, Reflections

“While Māori generally support rainbow rights, many are also Christian. And on some level, they will feel conflicted about Tāmaki’s agenda. So, they become passive observers, unintentionally complicit in the hatred of takatāpui.” — Anton Blank.

Chaos and serenity

Posted by Anton Blank | Feb 16, 2025 | PIJF, Reflections

“Abstinence as a lifestyle percolated like a long, slow epiphany as I contended with the consequences of my addiction and mental health challenges.” — Anton Blank on 15 years as a clean addict.

Expecting more for Māori from our teachers

Posted by Anton Blank | Oct 20, 2024 | Comment & Analysis

“Discussion about racism and teaching tends to focus on structural racism, as if the system is a force in and of itself, rather than an apparatus administered by humans, making discretionary decisions about Māori students daily.“ — Anton Blank.

Sol3Mio: Coming home

Posted by Anton Blank | Dec 12, 2021 | Arts

“Pacific singing is very personal because it’s the way we pass on our culture, so we bring a different range of emotions to the operatic world.” — Pene Pati of Sol3Mio.

Solar power and forgiveness

Posted by Anton Blank | Sep 19, 2021 | Reo

“In the digital age, it’s naïve to think that we can control the use and growth of te reo — which I believe is a positive thing. The language is flourishing, and I, for one, embrace the change with gay abandon.” — Anton Blank.

Focusing on the wrong end of the problem

Posted by Anton Blank | Jun 6, 2021 | Comment & Analysis

Teachers “don’t realise they spend more time with Asian and Pākehā students. Māori students see it, though, and retreat to the back of the classroom, where they sit in groups and disengage.” — Anton Blank.