Richard Dawkins wrote the piece after his visit to New Zealand in late February. I heard him speak in Auckland and he made some comments about matauranga Maori which were consistent with those he had made nearly two years ago, when defending the seven University of Auckland professors who had written to The Listener arguing that matauranga Maori was not in any sense equivalent to science as normally understood.
He deplored the fact that matauranga Maori would be taught in schools as part of the science curriculum:
Unfortunately [matauranga Maori] is deeply invested in vitalism. New Zealand children will be taught the true wonder of DNA, while being simultaneously confused by the doctrine that all life throbs with a vital force conferred by the Earth Mother and the Sky Father. Origin myths are haunting and poetic, but they belong elsewhere in the curriculum.
The New Zealand Herald sought out somebody whom they called a “leading Kiwi researcher” who criticized Dawkins’ article as “boring, embarrassing, inaccurate and full of racist tropes”. This about an article written by a man who was voted the author of the most influential scientific book of all time, The Selfish Gene, in a poll conducted by the British Royal Society in 2017.
Many years ago, New Zealand’s education system was purged of explicitly religious content. “Scripture lessons” were allowed in primary schools, but strictly speaking not in school hours. My impression is that the overwhelming number of schools no longer have “scripture lessons” – our public schools are officially secular.
But apparently New Zealand schools are obliged to teach matauranga Maori as science.
Imagine the outcry if schools were asked to teach the Christian creation myth, about the world being created in six days – even though I suspect there are more fundamentalist Christians who believe in the literal truth of that myth than there are Maori New Zealanders who believe in matauranga Maori.
Richard Dawkins reminded his audiences in New Zealand that in Ernest Rutherford this country had produced one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. When American author Charles Murray wrote his book Human Accomplishment in 2003, he ranked Ernest Rutherford behind only Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein (and ahead of Michael Faraday and Galileo) in their contribution to the understanding of physics.
If our kids are taught to regard science and matauranga Maori as equally valid, it is hard to imagine that we will ever again produce a scientist of international standing.
Dr Don Brash, Former Governor of the Reserve Bank and Leader of the New Zealand National Party from 2003 to 2006 and ACT in 2011.
8 comments:
Incredibly, the Sunday Herald apparently did not publish the full Dawkins article. This despite it being a very easy read. It was instead considered necessary to have it interpreted by a local trace maori, albeit one with a doctorate. Mc Allister stated "It is abundantly clear that Dawkins knows nothing about matauranga maori." I suggest she send him the collected works. For a man accustomed to wading through huge and complex scientific papers, the whole of matauranga will be a doddle. Perhaps his attitude will then change. If so he can be sure it will be reported in full in Aotearoa.
Another example of imposition - with no prior consultation.
Now the usual way of operating - and very little opposition to this.
>I’m not sure whether to be amused, depressed or angry at the reaction to the article by Richard Dawkins in The Spectator recently.
All of them, Don.
Amused at the almost incredible naivete and ignorance that so many zealots exhibit.
Depressed because they are being given centrestage.
Angry because those in the seats of power who ought to know better are kowtowing to this pseudointelligentsia for purposes of political gain.
Spot on Barend. I see DumbPost columnist, Dave Armstrong, came out in full, ignorant, virtue signalling woke today. These people really have no idea of the mischief and long-term damage this nonsense will cause.
Anon again
PS The problem is - as this is now so embedded - it will be near impossible to eradicate. Can you imagine these pseudo experts leaving their place in the intellectual limelight?
They are convinced that their unique knowledge will soon dominate global thought and practice. NZ will be a bad joke.
PPS A friend's daughter and family from London are spending a year in NZ...
the 2 children ( at a private school) consider their maths classses are 3 years behind what they were doing in the UK.
Thanks for standing up for the secular state, Don. It is being assailed on all sides these days. Maori culture has now become a state religion; in effect it has become a state established church. Any criticism of it is met with ferocious abuse, and you can be threatened with dismissal or abuse. I once texted Mani Dunlop about a biased view of our history she was reporting on Radio NZ Midday Report, giving the one sided Maori view of things on a hotly disputed topic. I got a text back immediately saying my comments had been handed to the, " harmful digital language unit." I'm still waiting for the "in camera," hearing.
If there's any crap resulting from that 'unit', I hope you'll make a fight of it, Peter.
Hi Peter
Mani is master of the led interview. All statements by the interviewee in accord with pro maori furtherance are met with an encouraging mmm, mmm, presuambly something she absorbed on the marae. Julian Willcox is proving a close rival.I regularly complain to the RNZand their maori chaired Board.A recent letter sent also to Hipkins complaining about the crude anti white statement from Titiwhai and broadcast on Waitangi Day drew a response from wily Willie invirng me to lay a formal complaint. I wish I had but now too late.
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