Everywhere you look, National’s photo opportunities seem to feature members of the Indian community front and centre. While diversity in politics is generally a positive thing, the sheer frequency of these images makes it feel less like genuine engagement and more like a calculated PR directive. It raises the question: has National’s communications team explicitly instructed MPs and candidates to be photographed with Indians as often as possible?
This trend was highlighted again last weekend when both Chris Luxon and Chris Hipkins managed to make fools of themselves, awkwardly dancing on stage to Bollywood music. Instead of coming across as authentic cultural celebration, the display felt forced, like yet another carefully staged piece of political theatre.
This trend was highlighted again last weekend when both Chris Luxon and Chris Hipkins managed to make fools of themselves, awkwardly dancing on stage to Bollywood music. Instead of coming across as authentic cultural celebration, the display felt forced, like yet another carefully staged piece of political theatre.
New Zealand politicians have always engaged with migrant communities, but National’s relentless focus on the Indian demographic feels unusual in its intensity. Are they genuinely connecting with communities, or is this just cynical box-ticking for votes?
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
6 comments:
When was the last time an Indian bashed up a child, wore gang colours, sought co-governance or pranced around like an idiot in parliament? The Indian community works hard and values ambition and service, no wonder National is in support and it is a relief from the relentless attempts of maoris to always be in the spotlight.
Or box ticking for a free trade agreement.
Good to see the Indian community getting attention. Good citizens.
"Blast", I see Robert Bird (@8:15AM) beat me to it. Well done Mate, spot on, as always. Ditto thinking in my corner.
But, I do have a problem - do the People of India 'eat dairy product' seeing they revere the cow ??
Yes, Indians are good citizens, except perhaps for when discipling their women by force, or committing the occasional business fraud or deception. I guess none of us are perfect. And yes, it’s entirely possible the Nats are looking both to get a trade deal with India across the line and to secure the largest possible share of the Indian vote in 2026. Shades of humanity and politics. Plus ça change.
With so few now watching TV, listening to authoritative radio, or reading newspapers, and the biased incomplete coverage by the msm, including TVNZ, RNZ, remarkably few of the population is fully aware of the designs of and inroads by maori. For the somewhat insular Asian communities this is more so. If they could all be reached with a clear message of how progressed and progressing maori insurgency is, very many should be motivated to vote and to vote against maori racial favouritism. It will require a much more explicit message than appearing at cultural events. Should be a simple task for an able advert agency, but I guess most are afraid to risk endangering the golden goose that is the maori economy and insurgency movements.. Needs something at least as specific as the dancing Cossack advert of decades ago. The haka in place of.
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