In my not entirely successful career as a radio talk show host, a few encounters remain fresh in the memory.
One was with former Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira during the time of the Ihumatao land occupation near Auckland Airport in 2019.
You’ll remember Fletcher Building bought the land off a farmer and planned to build about 500 houses on it, including some set aside especially for members of local iwi.
But some Maori protested the sale and the plans, because they believed it was Maori land and should be returned to Maori, although which Maori has never been successfully resolved.
Seven years on there’s still no housing there. It’s a testament to government incompetence.
The protest became very messy with police at one stage attempting to forcibly remove the occupiers.
One of the more staunch of the protestors was Anikaaro Harawira-Havili. During the protest she told a uniformed and sworn officer of the New Zealand Police to “f**k off back to your own country.”
That police officer was of Indian ethnicity.
During my interview with Hone Harawira, he admitted the utterer of the infamous comment was his daughter, he was proud of her and what she said wasn’t racist.
Hmm.
That’s because, according to Hone, Maori cannot be racists in their own country.
So on that score what Winston Peters said in Parliament last week to Green MP Lawrence Xu-nan cannot possibly be racist because Winston is Maori and he’s in his own country.
But Winston is a conservative heterosexual politician. Mr Xu-nan is gay and leans politically to the far left. So therefore he mustn’t be insulted, especially by an old man like Winston Peters.
In reality what both Ms Harawira and the Foreign Minister said in their respective forums was despicable and out of order. Nobody whose a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident deserves to be spoken to in that manner.
Anybody who commits to New Zealand through a career in law enforcement like the Indian police officer or political service like the Green MP should feel immensely insulted by both Harawira’s and Peters’ comments.
However this is a country where freedom of speech is an absolute right. The right to freely express opinions, insult and offend others AND to be offended and insulted by those opinions is inherent in the Bill of Rights Act.
But being offended and being insulted is no reason for people to lose jobs or lose rights or freedoms, unless that offense or insult is inciting violence.
Which is pretty close to what the Migrant Workers Association of Aotearoa were doing with the mock execution of an effigy of Peters in Auckland on Saturday.
They didn’t like what Peters said to Xu-nan so Peters had to be for the chop.
The MWAA, as exposed by Ani O’Brien, is a collection of ardent lefty union activists like Joe Carolan and Mike Treen with a close association to Green MP Ricardo Menendez March.
It’s very name suggests it backs the rights of migrant workers in New Zealand to not be insulted or offended.
I don’t know whether they existed in 2019. Even if they did I could never imagine them holding a mock execution of Anikaaro Harawira-Havili.
Because she has a right to be racist – even to a migrant worker.
But Winston doesn't.
It’s a weird world.
Peter Williams was a writer and broadcaster for half a century. Now watching from the sidelines. Peter blogs regularly on Peter’s Substack where this article was sourced.
But some Maori protested the sale and the plans, because they believed it was Maori land and should be returned to Maori, although which Maori has never been successfully resolved.
Seven years on there’s still no housing there. It’s a testament to government incompetence.
The protest became very messy with police at one stage attempting to forcibly remove the occupiers.
One of the more staunch of the protestors was Anikaaro Harawira-Havili. During the protest she told a uniformed and sworn officer of the New Zealand Police to “f**k off back to your own country.”
That police officer was of Indian ethnicity.
During my interview with Hone Harawira, he admitted the utterer of the infamous comment was his daughter, he was proud of her and what she said wasn’t racist.
Hmm.
That’s because, according to Hone, Maori cannot be racists in their own country.
So on that score what Winston Peters said in Parliament last week to Green MP Lawrence Xu-nan cannot possibly be racist because Winston is Maori and he’s in his own country.
But Winston is a conservative heterosexual politician. Mr Xu-nan is gay and leans politically to the far left. So therefore he mustn’t be insulted, especially by an old man like Winston Peters.
In reality what both Ms Harawira and the Foreign Minister said in their respective forums was despicable and out of order. Nobody whose a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident deserves to be spoken to in that manner.
Anybody who commits to New Zealand through a career in law enforcement like the Indian police officer or political service like the Green MP should feel immensely insulted by both Harawira’s and Peters’ comments.
However this is a country where freedom of speech is an absolute right. The right to freely express opinions, insult and offend others AND to be offended and insulted by those opinions is inherent in the Bill of Rights Act.
But being offended and being insulted is no reason for people to lose jobs or lose rights or freedoms, unless that offense or insult is inciting violence.
Which is pretty close to what the Migrant Workers Association of Aotearoa were doing with the mock execution of an effigy of Peters in Auckland on Saturday.
They didn’t like what Peters said to Xu-nan so Peters had to be for the chop.
The MWAA, as exposed by Ani O’Brien, is a collection of ardent lefty union activists like Joe Carolan and Mike Treen with a close association to Green MP Ricardo Menendez March.
It’s very name suggests it backs the rights of migrant workers in New Zealand to not be insulted or offended.
I don’t know whether they existed in 2019. Even if they did I could never imagine them holding a mock execution of Anikaaro Harawira-Havili.
Because she has a right to be racist – even to a migrant worker.
But Winston doesn't.
It’s a weird world.
Peter Williams was a writer and broadcaster for half a century. Now watching from the sidelines. Peter blogs regularly on Peter’s Substack where this article was sourced.
10 comments:
And the media could distinguish between a racist and a racialist. Some would argue that all who believe in identity politics are racialists, Maori land for Maori, dairies only for Indians, only Brits can teach Shakespeare....
Winston's hurty words were simply in response to Xu-nan's hurty words. Big deal.
No, freedom of speech is NOT an absolute right in NZ law.
Exceptions include speech that incites feelings of ill will towards named groups on the basis of race or religion.
I don't believe given the context of what Mr Peters' said that it was intentionally racist. He was referencing the political system of China where Mr Xu originates from. Not his race. He needed to make that clearer in what he said.
If according to Hone, "MÄori cannot be racists in their own country"?
Was it acceptable that they practiced slavery and murder too? Before, during and after colonial settlement?
Let's not forget the indigenous population had fiercely divided themselves into waring tribal groups, that still exist as squabbling tribes.
There was no sense of oneness, nationhood or sovereignty.
Were these micro groups not racist towards each other?
Perhaps racist is the wrong word?
There are certainly still shocking amounts of PREDJUDICE in this country most of it implemented by government policy.
Winston's outburst unfortunate. A gift to Red radio. They must have mentioned at least 50 times in the last few days.
The right wing parties seem to take it in turns to deflect both loyal and potential voters. A Left victory is disturbingly likely; much of remaining able NZ will disappear to Australia with more to follow as control by maori tightens. A Depression will result, triggering yet more money printing and ruining many able who stay. Fortunately most Chinese are sufficiently entrepreneurial to shun Labour. Peters usually chooses his words very carefully. Many of his statements are masterfully worded. But his work load at present must be great. With tempestuous Trump on the loose the Ministerial task is especially challenging. Then there is the mammoth task of assembling his team for the election. And he has to keep in with fellow maori. He clearly appreciates the magnificent utility of the English language. And he is an advocate of our serious democratic process. To be in a Parliament where gutter version of the language is now common, and the democratic process grossly misused by Te Pati and others, must be very dispiriting. To be then mindlessly heckled by some obscure back bencher from a weird party, with little or no responsibility and who probably applies little serious or responsible effort to their job, would clearly be extremely irksome. Similar to the situation when Moyle goaded Muldoon beyond his normal bounds. Unfortunately Peters did not immediately remember how long the heckler had been in NZ. (Nevertheless I suspect his quip may have gained as many votes as it lost). Labour have been especially critical. But what was the attitude of their Minister Mahuta to other races, notably pakeha?
Seems to me Peters, coordinated with and backed by Luxon, could have explained along these lines and would likely have gained considerable understanding and sympathy.
Yes, Anon944, 'racist' is the wrong word. Let's try 'tribalist'.
While the Black (or Brown)/White issue is the one focused on by most Whites, it is Black upon Black/Brown upon Brown tribal-based distrust and hostility that is invariably the real problem issue in Black/Brown countries.
I love the way an African colleague put it to me while I was at the Uni of Botswana: "The reason we Blacks like you Whites is that you treat us all equally, even if it is with equal contempt."
Why lump citizen in with permanent resident? The first is either born in NZ or has decided to commit to the country. A permanent resident has decided they like the place, but not enough to commit. So it may be rude to do so, but not unjustified.
"Who can be racist ?" In March 2023, Marama Davidson stated that "white cis men are the main cause of violence in the world". This was also loinked to domestic violence in NZ. She was forced to apologise but that did not remove the action of racism. Because she is a woman, and she is Maori, the media did not demand her resignation as they have done in the case of Minister Peters. Why do you think that is ? It is because the media are Far Left in their reporting, Far Left in their bias, and as useless as tits on a bull when it comes to analysis of any situation. Just take a look at the scribblings of that so-called lecturer in politics at Victoria Uni and the leader of the so-called Democracy Project. Integrity ? He has none, maybe doesn't know what it is. But BIAS, he knows that well; and makes no attempt whatsoever to present a balanced view.
And don't forget the comment by Uni lecturer Kylie Quince (?) who told that KC Barrister he "should go die in a corner as he was an old white dinosaur" (or words to that effect) Barely made the news!
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