Insights from Social Media

Tikanga

Steven Mark Gaskell writes > “Tikanga for Thee, Not for Me” – A Special Set of Rules for a Very Special Few

By now, you've probably seen the latest soft-focus explainer floating around social media and news columns: “What is Tikanga?” It’s being pitched as a living, breathing code of conduct, deeply rooted in Māori values, spirituality, and communal harmony. It guides how people should behave with respect, dignity, and balance.

All sounds lovely — in theory.

Bob Edlin: The '"mana" card

No, he wasn’t joshing when he played the “mana” card – and in the High Court it came up trumps with Justice Andrew

A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none.

It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction than non-Maori, if they draw a judge’s attention to the likely bruising of their reputations and prestige if they are found guilty and penalised.

JC: Is Maori Mana a Myth?

The Te Aka Maori Dictionary defines Mana and Myth as: MANA – prestige, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charisma – mana is a ‘supernatural force’ in a person, place or object. MYTH – the modifier (adjective) “mythical” in this example is defined as “Some mythical tales of the Pakeha should be told for pleasure.”

These meanings potentially explain the modus operandi of elite Maori, both in politics (the Maori Party, Maori MPs in the Greens and the Maori Labour Caucus) and outside (Tuku Morgan), very clearly. They highlight the spiritual power, the supernatural force in a person, place or object as an historical front for their real purpose. That purpose is to use their positions to try to exert and gain prestige, power, influence and status.

Mike Butler: Poverty, wealth, and the election

Dirty politics from the Left during the current New Zealand general election campaign obscures policy at a time when the issue of wealth or poverty and how to get there should be critical. Party policy can give a picture of the sort of country that the various politicians imagine. A wealthy country is good for everyone. A poor country is not. I looked for what the parties said about wealth and poverty and this is what they posted.

Wealth and poverty don’t just occur without a reason. Both are outcomes of human activity. Diligent activity towards a specific goal can result in wealth. Sitting around doing nothing will get you nothing.