Clive Bibby: Finding and adopting our Multi-Cultural Heritage

When I was a kid, I had little control over what we ate.

In retrospect, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing as most Mum's were a damn sight better judge of the food that was good for us than the stuff dished up if it had been left to us youngsters.

Mind you. I personally would have preferred a roast meal every night rather than occasionally being force fed sheep offal like tripe.

I loved and still do enjoy kidneys and lambs fry but l choked on every mouthful of the other stuff.

Each to his own.

But the reason I draw the analogy of individual food preferences with the subject of this column is because in both cases, at least for the moment in this country, we have choices to make and it behoves us all to seriously consider the impact of making those choices in the best interests of future racial harmony.

Because most people would be amazed at the things they would find out about their own family multi cultural heritage once they began to research the generations that have preceded us.

For example: I have always known that my forebears, as early (1862) Central Hawkes Bay (Waipawa) General Storekeepers - became close friends, business partners and associate community leaders with the Tribal elders of the Kahungunu Rununga District - including the Paramount Chief Te Hapuku who was a regular visitor to my Great-grandfather’s store.

Fortunately, much of the documentation and some of the treasured artefacts associated with those constructive relationships are available for all to see at either the Hawkes Bay Napier Museum or the CHB Museum at Waipawa.

We are grateful for those family members who have recorded events and transactions over the years that support the knowledge bank account of what actually happened and how influential it has been in the context of the Nation's Heritage.

These smaller museums play a critical role in supporting Te Papa and the National Library in Wellington with anecdotal evidence that clearly shows the true nature of our multi-cultural heritage (Provincial or National) - what happened and who was to blame if it was not a happy ending.

However, my research experience tells me that, in almost all cases, events of the time involved peaceful interaction between all ethnic groups.

Sure there were times when mistakes were made that have left understandable bitterness and damaged our ability to reconcile our longstanding differences but, given the goodwill that currently exists amongst the bulk of New Zealanders, we have the capacity and, for the most part, the determination to see the process through to a peaceful and constructive ending.

In the meantime may l suggest that those who have not already done it - take the time to explore your own family heritage from the documentation available at the aforementioned museums and their counterparts throughout the country.

There is invariably much to learn about your own lineage that may have played a significant part in the Nation's history.

You will not be disappointed.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.