A thoughtful and very positive piece. Ironically, the people who are most obsessed with race in this country are those who call themselves "anti-racists". It's ironic, because racism can exist only if people believe there are differing races, and it is the so-called anti-racists who seem most convinced that there *are* differing races. They're wrong, of course. Groups' historical experiences matter (like those of my Irish ancestors!), but these can be transcended, and while there do exist cultural differences, cultures overlap and intermingle. By insisting that the most important fact about everyone is their (apparently permanent) "racial" identity, "anti-racist" activists risk provoking the very racism they claim to be opposing.
How long ago was the study done that showed NZ as racially tolerant? Is it based on perception (like the corruption index that also puts NZ way higher than it deserves) or reality? I’m guessing it’s perception.
NZ is on a precipice. If we don’t stop dividing people on the basis of race (we didn’t used to - I have no idea how many Maori I have worked with and never know as they were just people like any other) we will have conflict similar to the UK. People are fed up with the cost of everything having a bit in it for the Maori elite, whether it’s electricity, water services, or the so called charity sector. When we are just people who may or may not enjoy their culture as they choose but who dont feel the need to inflict it on people who are not interested we will have made progress. At the moment I think it could go either way.
E pae a tou koorero . Like your wide ranging take on this - personal experiences and political observations, here and globally. I would cite Iain M Banks before Marvel but that's showing my age
I cant speak for anyone else but some days I feel so frustrated. Its like the media and politicians are trying to destroy the 1 thing about NZ that made it the best place in the world. our tolerance and our innate curiosity and desire to fix problems. In 3 years, we have switched from tolerance and a 'we can fix it' culture to one of victimhood and the promotion of division. Now we can no longer sincerely discuss anything across perspectives and there is so much gaslighting going on that we cant move forward. There is no objective truth so we have no touchstone for discussion, everything is about blame, victimhood and scrambling for power or relevancy. Intensely frustrating.
Oops I posted by accident before I finished my earlier comment.
In my opinion, part of the conundrum is that 30 years ago racism/racist was relatively clearcut. Now it appears to be whatever the writer/speaker wants it to be. In a recent Newsroom opinion piece a pakeha Victoria University senior lecturer wrote a cutesy piece about how "Here in 2024, the fires of white fear are being stoked on a daily basis by politicians who are either ignorant, or crude and cynical enough to build their politics around fear and disharmony." The piece is an impassioned plea to engage with decolonisation and build understanding of Te Tiriti and relationships with Maori with grace and humility. But she very conveniently didn't talk about the fires being being stoked by the rhetoric of Te Pati Maori eg Kiri Tamahere Waititi on YouTube and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer on Q & A. Apparently this doesn't appear to be racist these days.(Newsroom: Beyond Pakeha Paralysis, 31/7/24.)
New Zealand is special, but I'm not sure you've put your finger right on it, Haimona. This is the last place of any size to be encountered by human beings, variously, and it is the story of those encounters that makes for the emerging culture of the place, negatively and positively. As it emerges it does it in an international or global context. What's happening in Europe can be seen in a variety of ways, not all of them negative.
I think you are right that the ability to critique people in politics regardless of their colour or race is an achievement that is important. I dont think that ACT party or Karen Chhour can prove their claim that children are colour blind. That is something learned by adults, and I think children are acutely aware of the colour and the sex of the people around them. People were too willing to go with this narrative without asking the children around them. Iam not sure that asking children would work, but everyone is pushing back against this assumption about colour-blind, and it is unfair for adults to be making these assumptions about children.
One of the as-yet unanswerable questions is what's going to happen when the growing Indian and Chinese segments of our population get antsy about wanting their say in government.
A thoughtful and very positive piece. Ironically, the people who are most obsessed with race in this country are those who call themselves "anti-racists". It's ironic, because racism can exist only if people believe there are differing races, and it is the so-called anti-racists who seem most convinced that there *are* differing races. They're wrong, of course. Groups' historical experiences matter (like those of my Irish ancestors!), but these can be transcended, and while there do exist cultural differences, cultures overlap and intermingle. By insisting that the most important fact about everyone is their (apparently permanent) "racial" identity, "anti-racist" activists risk provoking the very racism they claim to be opposing.
How long ago was the study done that showed NZ as racially tolerant? Is it based on perception (like the corruption index that also puts NZ way higher than it deserves) or reality? I’m guessing it’s perception.
NZ is on a precipice. If we don’t stop dividing people on the basis of race (we didn’t used to - I have no idea how many Maori I have worked with and never know as they were just people like any other) we will have conflict similar to the UK. People are fed up with the cost of everything having a bit in it for the Maori elite, whether it’s electricity, water services, or the so called charity sector. When we are just people who may or may not enjoy their culture as they choose but who dont feel the need to inflict it on people who are not interested we will have made progress. At the moment I think it could go either way.
How long do you think we will have to wait for policy to catch up?
Race-based reference in legislation is endemic in NZ.
It doesn't reflect this one people one country tolerance we all enjoy.
Let’s just protect free speech and the rest will look after itself.
E pae a tou koorero . Like your wide ranging take on this - personal experiences and political observations, here and globally. I would cite Iain M Banks before Marvel but that's showing my age
Fantastic piece! And a much needed perspective,
I cant speak for anyone else but some days I feel so frustrated. Its like the media and politicians are trying to destroy the 1 thing about NZ that made it the best place in the world. our tolerance and our innate curiosity and desire to fix problems. In 3 years, we have switched from tolerance and a 'we can fix it' culture to one of victimhood and the promotion of division. Now we can no longer sincerely discuss anything across perspectives and there is so much gaslighting going on that we cant move forward. There is no objective truth so we have no touchstone for discussion, everything is about blame, victimhood and scrambling for power or relevancy. Intensely frustrating.
You are such a great story teller.
However, there is much danger in being ignorant to herd instinct. BLM or the nonsense around the unrest in UK are good examples.
We need more journalists like you, thank you for sharing your stories.
Oops I posted by accident before I finished my earlier comment.
In my opinion, part of the conundrum is that 30 years ago racism/racist was relatively clearcut. Now it appears to be whatever the writer/speaker wants it to be. In a recent Newsroom opinion piece a pakeha Victoria University senior lecturer wrote a cutesy piece about how "Here in 2024, the fires of white fear are being stoked on a daily basis by politicians who are either ignorant, or crude and cynical enough to build their politics around fear and disharmony." The piece is an impassioned plea to engage with decolonisation and build understanding of Te Tiriti and relationships with Maori with grace and humility. But she very conveniently didn't talk about the fires being being stoked by the rhetoric of Te Pati Maori eg Kiri Tamahere Waititi on YouTube and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer on Q & A. Apparently this doesn't appear to be racist these days.(Newsroom: Beyond Pakeha Paralysis, 31/7/24.)
New Zealand is special, but I'm not sure you've put your finger right on it, Haimona. This is the last place of any size to be encountered by human beings, variously, and it is the story of those encounters that makes for the emerging culture of the place, negatively and positively. As it emerges it does it in an international or global context. What's happening in Europe can be seen in a variety of ways, not all of them negative.
I think you are right that the ability to critique people in politics regardless of their colour or race is an achievement that is important. I dont think that ACT party or Karen Chhour can prove their claim that children are colour blind. That is something learned by adults, and I think children are acutely aware of the colour and the sex of the people around them. People were too willing to go with this narrative without asking the children around them. Iam not sure that asking children would work, but everyone is pushing back against this assumption about colour-blind, and it is unfair for adults to be making these assumptions about children.
One of the as-yet unanswerable questions is what's going to happen when the growing Indian and Chinese segments of our population get antsy about wanting their say in government.
Can you provide hyperlinks for sources, such as the study cited?