We can all understand plain old personal racism.
Like the time the friendly stranger at the bus stop struck up a conversation with me. Her farewell was: “I hope you have lots of nice little brown picaninnies.” It was like a scene out of Gone with the Wind. I stood there gasping like a goldfish as her bus pulled out.
Or the time when, as a toll operator, a supervisor pulled me up for kicking my shoes off. “Put those back on,” she said. “You’re not in the pā now.” I quite liked her before that. Turns out she was one of those nice racists.
Then there was the judge who admitted me to the Bar in the Rotorua District Court. In front of my entire whānau, he declared: “You’re a credit to your people.”
And, like many Māori, my name has been mutilated over airport terminal speakers and misspelled more times than I’ve had hot breakfasts. Now, whenever anyone asks me to spell my name, I answer: “How about you spell it and I’ll correct you?”
When my son went to King’s College, a private boys’ school, he was constantly asked if he was “on a Māori scholarship”. He’s been pulled over in his car by police countless times for no apparent reason. Once, he and his mates were driving slowly in Mt Eden, an upscale Auckland suburb, trying to pick out our friends’ house in the dark. A local rapped on their car window and screamed: “You robbed my house!” Then accused the astonished trio of casing the street for another rampage.
And that’s not even tapping into the stories we’ve inherited from our parents’ generation. God, we are a patient, polite people.
Every Māori will have multiple tales of personal racism. But I don’t think a lot of people understand what institutional racism is.
In 1988, Puao-te-Ata-tu, a landmark report about racism in New Zealand society, and particularly within the old Department of Social Welfare, noted that structural discrimination is “the most insidious and destructive form of racism.”
Many years ago, my old friend Rob Cooper explained institutional racism to me.
Imagine you and your extended family lived in a big house. One day, a group of strangers knocks on the door and asks if they can move in. You welcome them. But more and more keep coming. So you and the visitors sort out a tenancy agreement, just to be on the safe side.
As more of their mates pile in, your family is forced into the basement.
By now, the visitors are in the majority. They paint, plumb, rewire and transform the house without checking with you. You wave the agreement in their faces. After all, no matter how much a tenant pimps the property, the landlord is still the owner. But the newbies talk about how, thanks to them, the house is so much nicer. More modern even. “Look at all the bells and whistles,” they say. And they’ve got new rules, too. They suggest that if you want to challenge the alterations, “you could vote — just like anyone else in the house. That’s democracy. After all, we’re all one people. All equal.”
When we talk about institutional racism, we’re examining the inherent bias of structures and institutions on which our society is built. We’re looking at the values and belief systems that underpin state machinery — or, as Bob Marley sang in War, “the philosophy that holds one race superior and another inferior.”
Institutional racism is how power and control ultimately rests in the hands of the Pākehā majority, the true beneficiaries of the Treaty that enabled them to settle here in the first place. The structures their ancestors put into place entrench Pākehā privilege.
“That privilege that created, perpetuates, normalises and defends institutional racism is completely invisible to those who enforce it,” says my mate Barbara Menzies. “But us privileged types get real upset if the privilege we take for granted is challenged. Andrew Judd’s experience is a perfect example of that.”
The Treaty prescribed a very different relationship between tangata whenua and all others. And the kiwi v iwi nutcases among us can’t understand why Māori hang on to the Treaty for dear life.
I think there are many intelligent people who know there’s a bias in the system. They just don’t recognise it as institutional racism.
Take the case where four young Pākeha boys received a very light sentence despite a four-month burglary spree that netted around $80,000 worth of property, which they then flogged for cash or on Trade Me. Judge Harvey described them as four “bored young men … full of bravado who did it for fun, adrenaline and profit.”
A comment below a Herald article summed up most posts: “If these were Māori youth, they would be in the slammer.”
Nowhere in the comments was the phrase institutional racism used. But Moana Jackson identified it as such when he reviewed the criminal justice system in 1988, and unpacked it for us.
Moana described the interconnectedness and depth of the problems, which extended across police, politicians, the public service, judges, and juries. He suggested a number of solutions, which included the development of a separate Māori criminal justice system.
But a 2011 policy position paper, Just Speak, noted that, while there were “promising developments (for instance, new institutions such as the Public Defence Service and rangatahi courts) … structural change remains far off, and many of Moana Jackson’s proposals have not even been considered, let alone implemented.”
In April 2014, the United Nations declared that the New Zealand justice system “must be reviewed” after finding it was biased against Māori.
And that’s just a quick run through of one power structure in our society. How about the rest? It’s not like the research isn’t there. The kind of work Moana completed will have been done across many Crown agencies. It’s just that the Crown isn’t willing to consider, let alone make, substantial changes.
Andrew Judd, Mayor of New Plymouth, was.
New Plymouth is 20 kilometres from Parihaka. Dick Scott was so moved by the shameful history visited upon that peaceful settlement that he wrote Ask That Mountain, a book that had a profound impact on me. Tim Finn, another Pākehā, sang about Te Whiti and Tohu. New Plymouth is host to WOMAD, the multicultural festival that celebrates music, culture and diversity. All of that was lost on the voters of New Plymouth. When Andrew called for an increase in Māori representation, he was shot down by ignorance and mean-spiritedness.
The fact that Māori get excited when Andrew Judd and Steve Chadwick (mayor of Rotorua) use their positions to challenge racism, symbolises how desperate and grateful our people are for champions. We’ve learned that most Pākehā really only listen to their own — and hardcore racists don’t listen to anyone.
So we have to appeal to those with a sense of justice and compassion.
Many Pākehā understand that their sons and daughters are less likely to be picked up by the cops, go to court, drop out of school, rob a bank, get sick, be unemployed, end up homeless and commit suicide. Those who understand why are agents of change in their circles of influence. Pākehā who don’t “get it” fail to understand that the dice is loaded in their favour — that their place in the game is a given. They make assumptions that lead to victim blaming. Their inability and unwillingness to understand is part of the problem.
In the 1980s, Māori stopped doing “decolonisation workshops” for Pākehā. It was decided that Pākehā needed to put energy into educating their own, because Māori were too busy trying to educate ourselves that we are more than the system expects us to be.
Three cheers for Andrew, and for Māori and Pākehā who speak out when the popular option is to remain silent. And for everyone who is doing transformative work in the background. While it’s tempting to revisit the old Ngā Tamatoa “Racist of the Year Awards” (and there would be plenty of nominees this year), it’s probably more productive to celebrate those who are working alongside Māori to make real change. It’s hard. It’s frustrating. But, at times, it’s exciting.
A Pākehā friend of mine recently went to his primary school’s 150th anniversary in Taranaki. “You couldn’t get a more archetypal colonial school,” he said. But he noticed a huge cultural change since his days, led by the current pupils. “It was mind blowing,” he said. “So, yes. We still have our fair share of rednecks, but I think there is also profound grassroots change.”
And he reminded me: “Dinosaurs meet a predictable fate.”
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I worked in Soweto in a black
I worked in Soweto in a black hospital in the early 80’s
Apartheid as a system stinks. Separate but equal is racist nonsense
Why on earth would you want to introduce it to new zealand?
Great piece. How is it though
Great piece. How is it though that every Maori knows implicitly what this article is about and yet the privileged many don’t seem to?
That very thing is part of the racism practiced today, this wide-spread denial of it.
The Judd fiasco for example, amongst all the usual defence of the shameful treatment Mayor Judd received was a piece writen in a major news paper by a guy who used that platform to speak about democracy and that Judds proposal was everything that democracy isn’t.
Was the terrible response from the white majority adressed? Of course it wasn’t.
The almost intuitive willingness to overlook appalling behaviour and then blame the person on the receiving end of that behaviour is very much part of how rscism operates in NZ.
Great to see high profile kiwis getting on board with this ugly subject
This spoke to my wairua .
This spoke to my wairua . Right now Iv taken a break on Facebook I between applying for schlorships for my daughter to go to private school . $20.000 a year private school . We don’t have the putea to get her with out schlorships ( my husband ex ARMY and I’m EX firefighter we work hard this whare but still) She knows this … She 11 wise beyond her years and this is her own words on the topic ” I can’t go because we are maori ” I said “what makes you say the Bub?” ” because we as a maori people don’t have what the white man have !!” I said ” what’s that???” She said ( I still will never Belive my depth of the knowledge of my darling ) ” generational wealth , yea some Maoris are rich but not 3rd or 4th generation Wealth like pakeha . That’s why I have to go and make my mark at NGA TAWA and earn my living to put the ladder there of putea for our next generation. Otherwise we doomed to be 3 generations behind the pakeha .we need to break this cycle mum ”
She right . (It goes with out saying of corse not all pakeha are rich .) and also said ” I don’t care if I’m the only maori there , atleast Iv started our ladder somebody has to . ”
I love that kid !
It’s so disappointing to be
It’s so disappointing to be here in 2016 reading this post. That there is no mention of any other race than Maori and “Pakeha” (a racist term for white New Zealanders) shows the author’s racial prejudice against other races. We are a multi-cultural country of immigrants (all of us) where becoming a citizen of New Zealand should confer equal rights regardless of being 1/16th of a particular race (or not).
Besides, putting a token Maori on a council achieves nothing. There are a wide range of political views within Maoridom, just as there are across all sectors of our society. Giving a “Maori” perspective is not what happens, the individuals perspective supersedes, especially where the individual is unelected and unaccountable. Race based seats are undemocratic and don’t achieve what is intended.
The writer’s approach to her surname is laughable. On the one hand she writes about privilege, on the other she expects every New Zealander should be able to write her surname! Moana can you accurately write the surname of every New Zealand citizen or is it just that everyone else should be able to write yours? How privileged.
As for the burglars, yes the judge should have given them jail time. But it’s hardly the first time a dud judge in New Zealand has failed to apply an appropriate sentence. I seem to recall some bloke being let off charges because he was in line to be the next Maori King. It’s amazing how things slip your mind when they don’t suit your argument.
Totally agree on the issue of
Totally agree on the issue of representation – one seat is only tokenistic. The best model around at the moment seems to be the Independent Maori Statutory Board in Auckland. There seems to be a running theme among the “coalition of the unwilling” – hatred of the word Pakeha & lack of respect about spelling/pronouncing a Maori name, and lack of interest in putting in the effort. No reference, let alone understanding of Moana Jacksons report. Then there’s the use of fractions. Oh dear. Very last-century.
Thank you Moana. For those
Thank you Moana. For those who have the luck to be born into privilege, but who want to challenge the inequality rife in aotearoa, do you have any advice on how to work against the biased system to develop a society which is more equitable?
Kia Ora !! I have always
Kia Ora !! I have always thought that Maniapoto was an easy and very pronounceable name! I am a pakeha living in a South American country, and I have noticed a lot of very subtle behaviour aimed at me. But generally, I have been extremely well accepted. Kia kaha!!
Interesdting discussion – to
Interesdting discussion – to me it indicates the changes going on in the racism area – milder language for example. I lived 30 years in Rotoprua during which time I attempted to learn but at least got a feel for meanings and especially pronunciation. Once I knew the basic vowel pronunciation [co-incidentally much like in some European languages which is ancestral] I had no trouble. I am proud to be great grandmother of what I call the cross-cultural twins -a girl and boy.
Moana, I was not born here,
Moana, I was not born here, I came quite recently from South Africa. I went through the Apartheid years standing against it and also paid a price for that, but I was quite proud to say I was non-racist. However, in a conversation with someone who I did not know were of Maori descent I found racist in what I said, and apologized. I wondered where this came from! the thing is, it is a bit like one of those drawings of a tree that you are told contain 5 faces, or a face that you turn around and see another face in the same drawing you did not see before in spite of looking at it. you see it, look away, and when you look back, it’s gone! I see what you are saying, but tomorrow I won’t understand it again! it is a “blind spot”. It is not something you choose, it is how we work, all people.
Some would say that because I was born in South Africa and white I am a racist, and maybe that is it’s self would be racism, judging any person by their race is? How did racist people become racist? is it genetic? I don’t think so, it is a view that is assimilated not just from other people but from their whole experience. It happens from and early age, I saw a video taken in America where they showed a group of children of different races pictures of other children of different races and asked them, “which is the pretty one”, “which is the naughty one”, the clever one, etc. they all said the same thing, you can guess which got which selection! but it was not their own race that was clever, or ugly, etc. the lighter the skin color the more positive the comments, from ALL the participants. it does not mean it’s true, it’s not but this does say something about us all…. not sure what though! We actually don’t understand how this all works. It is too easy to just say the first thing that comes into our head, but we, the world, need to have a proper study done of this to find out what is actually happening.
Moana, I was not born here,
Moana, I was not born here, I came quite recently from South Africa. I went through the Apartheid years standing against it and also paid a price for that, but I was quite proud to say I was non-racist. However, in a conversation with someone who I did not know were of Maori descent I found racist in what I said, and apologized. I wondered where this came from! the thing is, it is a bit like one of those drawings of a tree that you are told contain 5 faces, or a face that you turn around and see another face in the same drawing you did not see before in spite of looking at it. you see it, look away, and when you look back, it’s gone! I see what you are saying, but tomorrow I won’t understand it again! it is a “blind spot”. It is not something you choose, it is how we work, all people.
George, you are being open
George, you are being open about the struggle and being conscious is surely the first step to addressing weaknesses. We are shaped by so many experiences and people in our lives, some for the better. Good luck and let’s keep having that conversation.
Thank you for this
Thank you for this beautifully written piece. I am inspired by the integrity with which you have tackled such an important topic.
This is a very thought
This is a very thought provoking article but using the term redneck is the same as using the N word. My understanding is that It is a racist term derived from the south which is used to describe poor uneducated white people in same way the N word is used to describe Afro Americans. This just shows how pervasive racism really is in is all and like institutional racism we can be so unaware of it.
Yes redneck is a racial term however it is not the same as the N word. Since the N word was used to describe a person from Nigerian descent and eventually evolved into slang to describe a slave back in the old days. I agree they could have used a better word than redneck however its not like the N word.
Thank you, Moana Maniapoto,
Thank you, Moana Maniapoto, for your openness, your gentleness and your clarity.
I have experienced racism the
I have experienced racism the worst of which was a Pakeha Teachers College colleague who called in to my study only a week after I had been appointed and claimed that my academic qualifications (Maori) for getting the job were not sufficient to qualify me for a job there because it was easy to pass that subject. I was devastated for a bit. I had only just settled in and wasn’t sure if I belonged there anyway. He found out later that my qualifications were in education and were even better than his. He never apologised. This was a common perception (ie it was too easy for a Maori to qualify in Maori academically) and at secondary level the scaling of subjects ensured that in School Certificate only 40% of those who sat passed Maori and “higher” academic subjects like French 70plus% were allowed to pass. This is one example of institutionalised racism and in education there were many.
Some very good points. I am
Some very good points. I am one of the privileged, where my education, health and financial status are outcomes of being lucky in the genetic lottery rather than extraordinary effort. I forget how lucky and privileged I am – living with blinkers on, being treated fairly and with respect and so ignorantly assuming that it’s the same for everyone. I try to treat all people that way too, but what comfort does that hold for people who have the whole system against them?
One thing I would add to this – the part where you liken institutionalised racism to strangers taking control of your house, a more accurate precursor would be to say that your family found an empty house and moved into it, before welcoming the strangers sometime later. All of us, in the entire world, were immigrants at some stage. I guess one day, Pakehas may find themselves in the same position as Maori now – outnumbered and pushed aside in what they consider their own home.
The precursor would be to say her family built the house and lived in it for generations before welcoming strangers who eventually pushed them aside by creating news rules (new laws) to justify their “ownership of their new better house”.
My husband is British and I
My husband is British and I am from Bangladesh. The result was a beautiful extremely light (what people call english rose complexion) skinned daughter and a gorgeous tanned son. While we stilled lived in the UK my kids came home one day and my daughter had been called a “honky” and my son was called a “paki”. I called the school, the result stunned me. The child calling my son a paki was punished, nothing happened to the child calling my daughter a honky. The principals explanation was being called a hinky is not as offensive! Really? Another thing I hear a lot of is my white friends, colleagues etc will say ” you are so nice for a asian person” or ” why can’t other asian people be like you?”. I get the same from my Bangladeshi relatives when they talk about my husband and say ” he is really nice for a white guy” . The thing is in both instances they think and genuinely believe that they are being nice and complimentary.
Manuia fafetai lava
Manuia fafetai lava
Thank you for keeping the fires burning
Interestingly argued, Moana.
Interestingly argued, Moana. You continue to educate as you advocate, something I have always liked about what you do. I have a very simple Scottish surname – Rennie – but I have to correct the spelling all the time, so I am well over being worried about it. However, that is hardly the point of your article.
I also wanted to learn Te Reo and wanted my children to learn (and I still hope to learn), but where we were at the time there was such a shortage of Te Reo teachers that priority appropriately went to teaching Maori, not Pakeha. I still believe both Te Reo and sign language should be compulsory at school through to year 13, alongside English – do we have the teachers?
I also felt that the solution to the supposedly deadlocked Envt Canterbury back in 2010 should have been the creation of seats for Maori on the Council, not the appointment of commissioners – I worry that the illegitimacy in the current appointed ECan Commissioner legislation and process will not help Ngai Tahu and Maori seats gain the recognition and popular support that it should – but perhaps they will demonstrate to Cantabrians that this is the way of the future.
The question I struggle with is whether seats on local government should be for ‘Maori generically’ or for tangata whenua with mana whenua. My gut feeling is that they should be for those with mana whenua. I am sure this is resolvable, by Maori, but would be interested in how that might be resolved, are Maori from elsewhere to be treated the same as Pakeha in local elections or should there be a third category of representation? This is probably all sorted already somewhere (Bay of Plenty), but perhaps you can address that in a future article?
Kia ora Moana, great article.
Kia ora Moana, great article.
Hamish, I agree with you about the desire for Te Reo teaching in all Aotearoa schools. I wish my kids, and I, had had this. Is the problem ‘really’ a shortage of Te Reo teachers, or is it that a low priority is given to it? At Central Govt. level and in schools?
I think that all you have to
I think that all you have to do, Sue is keep asking questions to unpeel the layers. Who? And why? No matter what happens, you will arrive at the answer. Those in power, i.e the decision makers, do not value the Maori language. They are in the position of being able to enforce their beliefs because they control the education system. No resources put in there, no big recruitment drives for teachers, no obligations on schools to teach the language, no incentive. Institutional racism.
Absolutely correct Moana
Absolutely correct Moana Maniapoto.
A well-written piece and so
A well-written piece and so good to read so many intelligent and articulate comments (sadly not the norm).
This is so true. Thank you so
This is so true. Thank you so much for this well written article. As a young person (19 years old), you don’t really hear about these kind of issues even though they are present and do affect us. It great to be able to learn more on institutionalized racism in NZ society.
Should be also talk about
Should be also talk about maori privilege ? Those iwi that make it so hard to join because they do not want another hand in the treaty payout honey pot yet they drive around in Range Rovers ? It does not matter what proof you show of your entitlement you are just fobbed off to join the other 73% otf maori who have no iwi affiliation and therefore see no benefit from treaty payouts ?
Can’t quite figure that one
Can’t quite figure that one out Tui. You don’t ‘join an iwi.’ You either have whakapapa or you don’t.
I hear you. One needs to walk
I hear you. One needs to walk in your shoes to understand. I do being Deaf. One time i was applying for a state house with my new husband, having arrived from England by ship that took a month – we were both sun-tanned. The man there said, “You Maori?” I was shocked at his lack of English and attitude thus i learnt instantly how Maoris felt. Never forgot this disgusted feeling.
thankyou so much for an
thankyou so much for an excellent well written article, because unless the very basis and value systems within schools, police, councils, courts that they adhere to, do not change, those that train and work in them will not either.
I felt so angry watching my husband go through this on different levels..one night he was cycling home after a long shift, (we were staying with my Mum on the side of town where few Maori lived), he was stopped by police ..accused of stealing the bike, staking the area out .(sadly young Maori Police Officers)….happened again when I was visiting a doctors in Auckand, he was outside waiting in the car (doctors next to the TAB in Newmarket Auckland) I came out with armed defenders around the car, I called out to my husband ‘what’s going on’? A policeman turned looked shocked and said the woman who ran the TAB thought my husband was staking the place out, (had been robbed the night before), they left without an apology, I had enough, marched straight into the TAB…politely asked the woman why she rung the police, her response was “he looked like he was going to rob the place”, I asked her what that meant..she refused to answer, so I answered for her, I said “because he was Maori!” If my husband strode in and asked that question I’m sure he would have been arrested!
I love these pieces and I
I love these pieces and I feel the shout out to keep alert to ways to make our country a better place for all but especially for those who have the handicap of being born non-white/female.
And it’s after reading your article that I am encouraged to keep going where I can do my bit: give articles like this to my students to read and discuss. To show them by my actions why I love being an English teacher; why I love learning te reo Māori; why I won’t sit back at let this continue (institutionalized racism) just because I was lucky enough to be born white.
Hi Moana
Hi Moana
Thanks for opening your heart on a topic that invokes much passion.
I myself am of myself of mixed island descent, am married to a NZ Maori, & we have 4 grown children & 2 grandchildren. We were both adopted at birth into white families but have long ago been reunited with our birth families & cultures. I went to a very white private school where I was 1 of only 2 non-White students in my year. We have all experienced moments of non-overt racism in our lives, & occasionally even direct racist attitudes. While these events have been few & far between they do nonetheless exist.
I commend you on your work to confront institutional racism, but would caution that this should always be tempered with a gracious spirit. Otherwise it is merely fighting fire with fire. If you don’t show grace then you will gain greater support from those who already agree with you but put yourself out of touch with those who believe they sit in the middle (despite the fact that there is no middle in racism). There is a tiny % of people who will never be anything but racist. But there is a great number who are unaware of the accidental racism of their actions or words. These are the ones who can be won over with a gracious attitude, or turned off by a hostile one.
Agree whole heartedly with
Agree whole heartedly with your article. As a Maori I make two comments. We got beat up; pakeha fire power was greater than ours and thank God that the Treaty was accepted by the government of the day
Thank you, Moana. We quoted
Thank you, Moana. We quoted some of your research in the section on discrimination in the justice system and the police in the National Integrity System Report of 2013.
Tautoko te kaupapa . TATAU
Tautoko te kaupapa . TATAU ETU KAHA.
Learnt this having lived in Australia since 82 and being witness to the TANGATA WHENUA here who are to this day persecuted on all racist levels.
Certainly sets an interesting time ahead as I watch china grow to world wide domination. Interesting indeed.
You have me Moana.
You have me Moana.
I like the general feel of
I like the general feel of this article but also think that you are being overly sensitive in some areas.
I am from middle white background but had a big Maori influence through my father going to a Maori school.
The part about the Pakeha boys given some leniency is a red herring. I have worked in the Courts and seen people of all races given leniency when they are young and it’s their first time before the Court. The other thing I would like to point out is that it doesn’t appear to matter what race you are when the Police pull you up. When I was younger I drove an old Holden. Continuously got pulled up. I understand these days it more likely to be a discrimination against Nissan Skylines.
However I do like the article and some of the truths it points out. It’s easy to see in all areas of life that the cultural significance of the Treaty is being implemented more and more .
What we don’t want, as you say, is Maori to think of themselves as victims in society even though that is the reality post colonisation.
We know that the solution is education and creating opportunities for youth but in this Pakeha profit driven world it is easier said than done.
Decades of damage can’t be undone overnight but hopefully with time and effort things can keep changing in a positive direction. Us v them is not going to ever work and plays right into the powers that be hands.
………honestly its food
………honestly its food for thought ,I tend to stick to facts and statistic type info which has no emotion or feeling ,its interesting to see the private human side of life………….
Thank you Moana – such a good
Thank you Moana – such a good description of institutional racism and the blindness of privilege
Great piece Moana.
Great piece Moana. Unfortunately what you write is true. Unfortunate as institutional racism stops us as a country from being all that we can be. As a Pakeha Christian who believes all are created equal it pains me when talking to other Pakeha how ingrained the racism is in this country. Mike Hosking may claim to know what the middle class majority thinks but the middle class majority is wrong.
The article is well written
The article is well written and thought provocative and evocative. The ones who need to read it won’t though because they wish to remain in their positions of privelege and ignorance.
For instance Lenovo up there who suggests it’s outrageous to be upset at the pronunciation of her name. As if a name has no significance attached to it. As if as Tangata Whenua we have no right to expect tauiwi to pronounce our reo correctly.
A beautiful example of the insidious institutional racism of which Moana speaks of.
I’m sure she would’ve
I’m sure she would’ve appreciated you showing her respect by actually making an effort instead of reminding her how inconvenient her name is for others. Len…with a name like that, you could never relate to the water torture she and I go through every single day.
You shouldn’t be so precious
You shouldn’t be so precious about your name being mispronounced or misspelt. Plenty of people of other races have that happen.. There’s a lady where I work with the surname of Bergenhenegowan. Of course I would ask her to spell it for me if I had to write it down
Sadly you are missing the
Sadly you are missing the point.
I really hope you didn’t mean
I really hope you didn’t mean that phrase ‘other races’ the way it sounds. We are all of ‘other’ races. English and Māori are the official languages of NZ. It shouldn’t be too much to expect that people there learn to pronounce and spell Māori and that they still don’t is a very clear result of the type of institutional racism that this articles articulates so well. And it is far from precious to require people to show you a normal degree of respect by making an effort with your name, most especially in the country of its origin. We should be thanking Moana for this article. It saddens me that someone could still make this sort of comment on it.
Thing is that maori names are
Thing is that maori names are actually very easy to spell in our written language, easier than pakeha names really. A moderate amount of effort and understanding of pronunciation and you can spell any maori word.
(My apologies for lack of macrons with my phone typing!)
While I can understand your
While I can understand your perplexity at fussing over our names being misspelt or mispronounced, Len; bear in mind this is maori people struggling for something as trivial as our own names in our native country. we are becoming foreigners in our own native land here
The point is be empowered to
The point is be empowered to make an effort to notice people, respect them, & learn how to spell their name as they have empowered by making a respect filled effort…. Shouldn’ts wouldn’ts couldn’ts – how about taking self-responsibility instead of controlling people what they shouldn’t be precious about when it’s their given right re: you are not tolerating therefore need to look in own reflection about seeing where others are coming from – & how you respond rather than react….. It’s about trying to understand one another rather than compete on whose right & wrong.
Alas using your term
Alas using your term “precious” you clearly don’t understand or have lived in our shoes where our names are very precious to us. Consider something that is precious to you Len then perhaps you might get a glimmer of understanding and not be so insensitive as to tell Moana what she “shouldn’t” be doing.
My unusual English surname is
My unusual English surname is routinely mispronounced and misspelled. My first name isn’t because it’s straightforward. Moana Maniapoto isn’t that complex a name that it should be mispronounced or misspelled in New Zealand. Full stop.
Len, read the text again.
Len, read the text again.
Steve, stop telling people
Steve, stop telling people how they should feel or react. Everyone in your life will appreciate it
I like this kaupapa..I am
I like this kaupapa..I am from parihaka I am direct descendant.. And yes I tattoo me big black panther represent stop racist, in reality now, racist does exist in NZ, not just pakeha, other cultures..but I could go on..but stop there..
Kia ora ra Moana me e-tangata
Kia ora ra Moana me e-tangata, it is so great to read an article that so eloquently articulates my puku riri. I am grateful to one’s like yourself who are doing the hard slug of “transformative work” on this society whilst ones like myself struggle to transform ourselves and our whanau. Kia Kaha and a great thanks for the Sunday read of continuous inspiration.
Thank you so much for this
Thank you so much for this article, it will be a fantastic end to my classes unit on Parihaka. We need more of this type of open discourse on racism in Aotearoa.
Engari tonu Moana! Ka pai. Ka
Engari tonu Moana! Ka pai. Ka mau te pai.
(Good on you Moana! Excellent stuff)
Interesting perspective and
Interesting perspective and sadly still happening now
Moana, your situation and
Moana, your situation and statements are very similar with the plight of Native & African Americans over the last 400 yrs. Institutional Racism in America has been documented brilliantly in the following manner, if you are interested in how this White privilege took root in the North America..As Angela Davis might say, keep fighting the good fight.http://atlantablackstar.com/2015/02/02/if-anyone-ever-questioned-how-white-privilege-manifested-itself-in-america-this-is-the-perfect-illustration/
Al, Maori have always had a
Al, Maori have always had a strong relationship with native Americans, Canadians, Australians, Taiwanese, Hawaiians and with Sami, Welsh etc because our experience is very similar. What a great and disturbing trailer on AtlantaBlackStar. PS Angela Davis – was and always will be, extraordinary in intellect and courage.