Unsurprisingly, the things that matter most to them are much the same as the values held by the average Kiwi - albeit there are a few marked diffences when it comes to things like land ownership and spirituality.
For example, it is noticeable that many of the claims lodged at the Waitangi Tribunal hearings seeking the return of or compensation for ancestral land confiscated by the Crown are based on their spiritual value to Maori as opposed to or not necessarily the economic value.placed on them by Pakeha.
In my dealings with Maori at all levels on the social ladder, I have found no evidence, apart from the rants coming from the radical political element, that the average mature man or woman wants anything more than an equal opportunity to reach their potential in a chosen field while at the same time, feed, clothe and house their families.
In the same way as the Nation’s resources are owned and shared by all citizens who legally live in this country, the responsibility for welfare and education are those of the State alone.
Herein lies the dichotomy that underpins the conflicts that emerge between the different classes within modern society - between the “haves” and the “have nots” - and unfortunately, this problem of access to the nation’s resources has been turned into a battle based on different interpretations of our founding document - the Treaty of Waitangi.
Some would say that ownership of land or other natural resources like seafood or fresh water should be based only on Tangata whenua status and title should be based on the timing of settlement. or the date of arrival as immigrants but the truth is - this dispute is the one thing holding us back and we will not progress in any form as long as we allow this political “sea anchor” to determine our future.
Given that no country on this earth has developed a fair system based on historical occupancy, one would expect that the best way forward for all people is to do the best with what we have.
Sadly, history suggests that utopian objective has been too often subjected to the less attractive side of human nature and we repeatedly allow those with selfish intent to overcome the innocent.
Thankfully, we live in one of the few countries that have adopted a system where past grievances can and have been settled without resorting to rioting, loss of life and damage to property.
Instead it is possible for all people, irrespective of race, creed or position on the social ladder to achieve their aspirational goals without resorting to violence but that relatively harmonious environment will only be sustainable if everybody respects the laws under which we are governed.
And if my assessment of modern society is correct, the only people capable of derailing the achievement of that objective are the “so called” leaders of the different races who make up our multi-cultural society.
Unfortunately, the introduction of Maori Wards to our local authority voting system is an unnecessary undemocratic impediment to achieving that objective.
And while this issue remains one championed primarily by radical Maori and their fawning pakeha supporters, it is an issue that must be dealt with asap before it destroys our ability to work together solving problems that affect us all.
In saying that I deliberately refer to people who have obtained a political status undemocratically - ie. People who occupy seats at Council tables that are appointments only but have the same voting weight as those elected at the ballot box. Let’s hope the referendum this month will return our voting system to one that has credibility.
In the meantime, I am confident that Maoridom has the ability to sort out its own house and by so doing, reestablish itself as a vital part of the governing process that will see them benefit from decisions made that are in the best interests of all its people.
There is no question in my mind about the availability of quality Maori leadership from existing ranks.
The extraordinary growth of the Maori economy is a fitting example, if ever one was needed, of the current leadership’s ability to use their Treaty settlement money in a most responsible way.
Making the right decisions at board room level is something based on genetically inherent qualities that have their roots in ancestral achievements of forebears.
You only have to read about Maori contributions on the battlefields of history (which sorts the men from the boys) to understand why this race is and always will be, a mix of achievers.
And we should not underestimate the “real leaders” within Maoridom’s ability to make the right choices that only they can make.
It should be over to them.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
8 comments:
Put simply - Maori wards are racist, divisive and basically a form of apartheid.
True word Clive.
Your "race is and always will be, a mix of achievers." is true of any section of society, but the group we are talking about is a mix of races. As a result, the "Maori" race is slowly but surely being diluted to the extent that a person claiming to be Maori is only a Maori because he or she wants to be called a Maori.
It approaches the point of dilution of races were the term "race" no longer has meaning and becomes entirely irrelevant.
Hopefully we will get to that point sooner rather than later.
I really have a problem with this term Māoridom. It suggests and continues a believe that nothing has changed since pre European times.
Yet everything has changed.
We became a functioning democracy, were as any collective, racial or otherwise can no longer exist as political force. Confirmed and agreed to in the Treaty of Waitangi.
Māoris don't exist, there are only New Zealanders.
Of course the ‘Maori economy’ is succeeding. It is helped in large measure by the special tax status their enterprises gained in TOW settlements.
There is an inherent danger attaching to the settlements gained from grift and it is this: The wealth amassed becomes used as a literal war chest with which to turn upon those who bequeathed the settlements. Beware lest those who have benefited decide to use their gain as a stick to beat the benefactors about the head to gain more by way of enhanced grifting or worse. Oh, no perish the thought, that would never happen.
That the main tribes are now seriously wealthy is an established fact. I’m not quite clear on just how they see themselves as having their own economy, as if it is all somehow disconnected from the rest of the country. I guess it reflects their separatist view. On the plus side, they can’t claim to be hard done by anymore.
I agree that most of my life there have been lots of issues when it comes to Maori protesting land, and there are just causes where land that was appropriated and not returned when it ought or without compensation (as opposed to land appropriated as punishment). However, one of the factors considered for the ToW was that Maori were trading with and selling land to settlers. To me, this is not about claiming some sort of delusional spiritual connection to the land, but restoration. Recently there has been the shameful Ihumatoa, and for first European settlers the Hutt Valley: it was dispossessed by Maori, has a deed of sale, fought a war with the help of the Maori chief who sold the land. Yet it has a Maori Ward and unelected Maori representatives at council, and probably like most of the Public sector special Maori roles within the organisation. Should Hutt Valley landowners all be worried about the land under their houses which Maori claim to be connected to too? Maori are only a recent race ~1300AD (they weren’t Maori when they washed into the shores), so how can they be any more connected to land than the rest of humanity which has been around for tens of thousands of years?
I do find it amusing the amount of Maori things that have never had any grounding in pre-European Maori history. Ratana church, Kingiitanga movement, Maori King/Queen, Maori Economy, Maori science, Maori healing, the Maori All Blacks, Maori land (given there were no land rights), etc etc. None of which seems to be pushed by those wanting to just get on in life and enjoy it the best they can. They don’t have a toki to put to the hoanga.
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