Meetings take up a large part of working life and how they are run has a big impact on outcomes. Formal meetings can begin with individuals arriving with fixed views they wish to impose on people they have never met, listened to, or learnt from. Such meetings often get off to a bad start and deliver poor outcomes because the social foundations are not in place and the right spirit does not prevail.
Most work-related meetings are transactional and focus on information-sharing, decision-making and agreed action points. Karakia are not appropriate for such meetings. Karakia are best suited to important formal meetings on weighty issues where relationships matter and enduring change is sought.
I believe that beginning a meeting with a karakia fosters respect, calm, shared purpose, and improves the chances of good outcomes. Like an All Black haka they can be both “a cultural product” and have a practical purpose (warming up). They are a low-key way of improving Māori language visibility while helping improve meeting outcomes.
However, if we support human universality, bicultural English and Māori should not crowd out all other cultures in New Zealand. My modest proposal is that important, consequentialist meetings should begin with karakia or with any song, incantation or other artistic product in any language that can fulfill the same role as a karakia. There is no inherent need for the language to be translated – the greatest human artistic achievements translate themselves through the emotions they evoke.
Some illustrative examples that transcend cultures and combine high artistic achievement and positive humanism are suggested below:
Most work-related meetings are transactional and focus on information-sharing, decision-making and agreed action points. Karakia are not appropriate for such meetings. Karakia are best suited to important formal meetings on weighty issues where relationships matter and enduring change is sought.
I believe that beginning a meeting with a karakia fosters respect, calm, shared purpose, and improves the chances of good outcomes. Like an All Black haka they can be both “a cultural product” and have a practical purpose (warming up). They are a low-key way of improving Māori language visibility while helping improve meeting outcomes.
However, if we support human universality, bicultural English and Māori should not crowd out all other cultures in New Zealand. My modest proposal is that important, consequentialist meetings should begin with karakia or with any song, incantation or other artistic product in any language that can fulfill the same role as a karakia. There is no inherent need for the language to be translated – the greatest human artistic achievements translate themselves through the emotions they evoke.
Some illustrative examples that transcend cultures and combine high artistic achievement and positive humanism are suggested below:
Dvorak was a Czech composer, YoYo Ma is Chinese-American and Itzhak Perlman is Israeli-American. Look at the rapport between these two great musicians.
Look at the cue exchange and prompting between the singers, and the bond between the accordionist and the lead singer. And look at the delight shared when they have finished a song sung with emotional power!
A Tibetan singer with a French pianist. Let’s hope that such a Tibetan taonga is not threatened by cultural homogenization.
A beautiful Finnish cappella that is almost beyond translation.
A Ukrainian piece that all sheep farming peoples can identify with!
This is a Ukrainian joke song, also popular in Russia. Without knowing a word of Russian or Ukrainian you can tell the lady is in control of the line of suitors for her hand.
Bicultural New Zealand at its artistic best!
An authentic performance of a famous Cossack dance song.
Sonnet 30 from the supreme universal genius who no one has yet been able to cancel…
Dr Peter Winsley has worked in policy and economics-related fields in New Zealand for many years. With qualifications and publications in economics, management and literature. This article was first published HERE
10 comments:
Thanks for your thoughts but it doesn't stop it from being racist rubbish being forced on the majority by a minority,
“He believes”, it will foster calm and respect etc. I think he needs to get out into the real world. We have meetings of all descriptions just fine.
Meetings are generally way too long and boring as it is, without subjecting everyone to an incoherent wailing session that drags them out even longer.
At least if it was karaoke, instead of karakia, everyone could join in.
Rubbish. Many persons attending meetings are hard taxed to assemble their thoughts without a distracting preamble to which they must divert effort to fathom, or accept unquestioned. All must be translated, and by a certified translator, pre approved by management, and the translation stated to the suffering audience. The approved text must be readily available for verification that it as delivered. Otherwise all manner of subversive cracks will be slipped in. Once established karakia will not go away. Paid presenters or designated staff with no other attachment to meetings will evolve. Quite apart from the time frittered, all more expense. Also a device to infiltrate the maori 5th column into meetings.
has the author not more useful things to ponder?
Haka is a murderous incantation. It is offensive to use it as a cultural icon. If the players chanted the same intent before a rugby game in English, there would be outrage - except for the thugs.
Sorry Peter, none of your recommendations transend culture, as fine as I'm sure they are.
Recently my principals forbid me attending a commemorative event designed to bring people together and reflect on our common humanity here at Muriwai beach after the devastation of our town from cyclone Gabriel.
Why, you ask. I just couldn't stomach being subjected to another display of arrogant, insensitive over reach by a band of paid for non locals performing yet another Karakia and a waiata.
There was a time these cultural displays were acceptable.
Now along with other Maori cultural displays ie All blacks performing the haka have become a display of political power.
The only way forward is to not favor any groups cultural beliefs. Becoming a secular society had solved all these issues and doesn't prevent groups from indulging in cultural activities in private.
New Zealanders once celebrated our common heritage in proportion to its actual cultural identity a blend of many cultures.
Unfortunately this is no longer the case.
Peter I somewhat agree with you. However, now that it has become endemic, compulsory and we feel captured by it, we don't like it as much as we used to.
I enjoy Maori culture when I come across it but I don't enjoy having it "shoved down my throat".
After 18 years working for a Regional Council and feeling the culture slowly but surely being embedded into daily routines I can see where it has been leading us to. Like sheep to the slaughter; Co-governance, Judiciary, education, the health system and all government agencies have been captured in a huge cultural and ethno-political net. We are flailing badly for relief and release.
We didn't need it before and we don't need it now.
MC
Thanks for everyone's comments. I admit I am outgunned! At least I made an attempt at finding some kind of middle ground.
Peter Winsley
I do not think there is any place for karakia except for in a family cultural setting. NZ was founded on the Christian faith and grew well under its moral doctrines. Since discarding prayer in schools and in our places of public office, it's purpose to focus on moral intents has been ripped from society and we see its consequences in our societal moral decay. We have a national anthem saying "God defend NZ" but we have closed our eyes to our God and forsaken him. Our country is now being removed from God's protection. Karakia is for Maori only and is an insult to others who have their own religious belief. Maori worship pagan mythological God's and erect idols all over our country as a sign of their cultural belief. Again, these idols are an abomination to other religions and there should be no place for them except for on a Maori Marae where their faith is based. Maori have used Karakia to infiltrate and gain power across all of our organisation's and it needs to stop now. As always they start with small matters and creep in until they are running the show. Now they are insulted if they are not front of stage and in our face on everything. That's the power of worshipping false idols, we allow it and pay the price as a society.
A 'karakia' is, by definition, a Pagan incantation. What they're trying to summon is anybody's guess. If I found that being imposed on me I would recite The Lord's Prayer and implore our Lord to cleanse the area of evil spirits and influences.
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