I have included it with my accompanying piece as much as anything in the hope that it will stimulate a revolt against the tyranny of a government operating without a mandate - silently eliminating our rights as law abiding citizens to share what is left of a way of life built on the Anzac spirit, established and fine tuned by past generations of decent, hard working Kiwis.
It is clear that this government intends shredding the bonds that bind us as one people, dividing us into two groups of slaves obedient to the dictates of ideologues who owe no allegiance to this country or its culture.
Given one more term, Labour and the Greens will have destroyed every statute that keeps us free. Time is running out to avoid a catastrophe that will make the Corona virus pandemic look like a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park.
I believe Bob Hawke’s delightful story that would probably fail the proposed “hate speech” test truly reflects the real state of race relations in these two Trans Tasman countries.
It epitomises the irreverence for unacceptable authority that has in fact endeared us to one another irrespective of cultural or ethnic origins.
Our rules of engagement are based on fair play and equal opportunity for all.
My experience during the last 42 years living and working in low decile communities heavily dominated by those of Maori decent has allowed me the privilege of understanding the values we share and respect.
Ironically, it is that shared journey that has enabled a peaceful co-existence that withstands pressures a divided populace would not endure.
It has meant we are each able to maintain and express our differences without fear of negative reactions when sharing alternative opinion.
We live and let live but when the time comes to support one another, we are there to help for however long it takes.
Our society operates under acceptable rules that are developed to allow individual expression within a structure that works for the common good - each person making a contribution consistent with their ability to make it.
Those who are more fortunate are usually called upon to contribute the most.
It is the parable of the widow’s mite and it serves us well.
There is room for humour and irreverence that is encouraged because it is accepted as a necessary oil making the wheels go round. I believe most of the country is accepting of this “modus operandi”. It has been the Anzac way for 200 years.
Most people know where the boundaries are and it is a reflection that they are well established when individuals can greet each other in ways that would horrify the woke high priests.
The other day I called around to see my shearing contractor mate (maori) to discuss the background of a mysterious fire that had destroyed the house of a village malcontent (pakeha) during the night.
He greeted me from his position holding court under a cabbage tree on the back lawn.
It was time for Sunday afternoon drinks and he welcomed me to the table with the following comment: “Gidday you honkey bastard! Why have you come around to annoy me Clive? Haven’t you got better things to do”
I replied in kind. My response was littered with similar uncomplimentary language. We “hongied” and he handed me a beer.
Three hours later after putting the world to right, l slowly drove home to begin another week of toil.
You can’t make this up but l mention it as it happened because l reckon that little example of Kiwi life would have been duplicated thousands of times across this blessed land seven days a week - perhaps not including the house fire incident that even on the Coast is not what you might describe as a regular occurrence. However, It is part of the folk lore of this country and it is these types of relationships that are under threat. Our government wants to set us apart.
We should have none of it.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
6 comments:
Stories abound of experiences like yours. The work and social interactions between Maori and europeans has been going on since the first settlers arrived here.
My personal experiences are identical to what you describe. Sadly, many acquaintances have passed or contact has been lost.
The younger generations of both races see things in completely different light, not for the better I suggest.
Clive, between your story and Bob Hawkes joke, you've captured the spirit of most ordinary Kiwis (and Aussies), regardless of race.
The woke establishment have nothing but loathing and disdain for those kind of attitudes, which is why I hope their warped version of PC groupthink that they are peddling will be rejected by the voters at the next election.
Another example of Kiwi culture that has baffled even famous world leaders is worth a mention.
During WW2, Field Marshall Montgomery (supreme commander of the Allied Africa Corp) was reviewing the NZ Division somewhere in North Africa. He was accompanied by General Freyberg, OC of the New Zealanders.
As the two men walked down the rows of Kiwis lying shirtless on their backs in the sun, having a smoke, probably recovering from some horrific engagement against the Germans that had left them minus a considerable number of their mates, Montgomery voiced his displeasure that the soldiers weren’t standing to attention and saluting.
He is reported to have expressed his concern to Freyberg, who answered in typical kiwi fashion .
“Oh don’t worry about that. Just give them a wave and they’ll wave back!”
That is the kiwi way and it should not surprise anyone who understands the importance of those type of attitudes to misplaced authority as part of our nation’s heritage and culture. Most of these pompous bastards, including our current government, wouldn’t appreciate those cornerstones if they fell over them. Yet they still expect us to abandon all that part of our being in favour of an ideology that is foreign to most
hard working decent citizens.
It won’t work.
Excek=llent again Clive - Ngaire and I enjoyed the Bob Hawke skit.
Donald MacDonald
I hope you guys are going to be with us when the shooting war begins. This Marxist takeover is not going to be stopped peacefully.
Clive, you have illustrated a theme that is dear to us all, regardless of race. We have Maoris and we have Pakehas, but together we are Kiwis and we must not let go of that.
During my days of National Service Military Training, there were two hard cases from Northland: privates Ihaka & Seminoff. The two were like brothers, and in the same way as my own brothers and I trade mock insults, it was the mark of mateship. The relationship between those two was infectious and was good for the morale of the whole company. Todays politically correct generation who have been brainwashed with Critical Race Theory would have no appreciation of the undercurrent of goodwill that existed between Maori and Pakeha in the light of the rhetoric traded between these two soldiers.
That spirit still exists today amongst the older generation. We might let off steam and kick up some dust, but down underneath it all, my generation treasure the humour and mateship that existed in those golden years. The radical Maori element of today have trampled all over that goodwill, and unless wiser heads put the brakes on them, there will be nothing left to trample when the dust settles.
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