Or as Machiavelli said: “Fortune rules only half a man’s life; The other half being their will.”
As a disciple of the erudition enunciated by these eminent advocates of the pathway for individuals to succeed, and whereas I acknowledge the distinction between individuals and ethnic communities, I nevertheless have difficulty endorsing policy of politicians which seeks to artificially elevate cultures by ethnicity.(1)
Jim Bolger’s cabinet inner circle tried this when I was a
National MP.(2)
Ironically, it was Helen Clark who put a stop to Maori taking control of our
foreshore when she asserted, “Parliamentary Supremacy” over Sian Elias’, attempt
to “rule by court interpretations of laws approved by the process we call
democracy”.(3) Tragically,
it was John Key and his mate Finlayson who laid open the gateway for the Courts
to once again impose their interpretation of “democracy”, on New Zealand.
The contemporaneous outcome?
Marine & Coastal chaos.
Dr John Robinson asks, “How can we turn this around?”(4)
Speak up. Speak out, is his
suggestion.
Alexander
the Great once
said: “I am not afraid of an army of lions lead by a sheep. I am afraid of an army of sheep lead by a
lion.”
In my view,
we have a case of the former, in New Zealand, with a government which will not
accede the path of the power afforded it, when the political pendulum for
equality before the law, swung heavily against Labour in 2023.
The
Solution?
Not civil
war, as is threatened by several so-called leaders of Maori today (who somehow
do this with impunity from the law).
Perhaps the
solution is, that we should all register as Maoris?
All one has
to do to register as a Maori, is to harbour some empathy, affinity or sympathy
for that culture.
Paradoxically,
I could qualify as Maori – but I will never ever elevate one element of
my lineage above my status as a 4th generation New Zealander.
Addendum.
On my paternal side, I have Royal Maori lineage via my
French Gt Gt grandfather Meurant, who in 1836 at Kawhia married Te Whero
Whero’s niece Princess Kenehuru. Meurant
was a translator at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, 1840. On my maternal
side, about this time, a Norwegian
seaman, Olsen, jumped ship in the Hokianga and married into the Hei-Hei clan.
By combining the French and Norwegian pedigree, with
respectively a Scottish paternal grandmother and an Irish/English maternal
grandmother, I calculated I have 1/8th Maori juxtaposed 7/8th
European, making me a 4th generation “New Zealander”.
Ross Meurant, BA. MPP. Company Director. Former Police Inspector, Member of Parliament & Diplomatic
Representative.
References:
(1) https://www.nzcpr.com/a-step-too-far-bi-cultural-partnership/
(2) https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2022/09/ross-meurant-to-hold-pen-is-to-be-at-war.html
(3) Ibid
(4) https://www.nzcpr.com/a-broken-nation-complete-tribal-disunity/
3 comments:
Yes, I do believe many of us do have in our heritage Māori ancestry. The lone early settler, a whaler even. Kiwis have a remarkable shared history, we shouldn't forget this, as this is what unites us.
However, Ross Meurant, you look more Māori than I do and I don't think you look Māori either. But then should this matter?
Even Some Māori politicians that have the all the physical characteristics of, are not the 'right kind' of Māori. Why should some be the judge of this?
Identity politics is a nasty business, why should we need to go there?
I agree with your eloquent and accurate description of the mess the country is now is, but I don't agree with your suggested "solution" and neither do you it seems from your final comment.
Rossco, we have known each other for some 58 interesting years and it has been VERY interesting to follow your careers of positivity which is still very much there. I totally agree with everything in this blog and urge everyone to also read Dr.John Robinson's recent blog on the same subject. We are ALL equal NEW ZEALANDERS so please everyone - speak up. Brian Walker.
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