Matua Kahurangi: Why do NZ newsrooms celebrate Māori identity in every success story?

But go silent on ethnicity when the story involves crime?

I woke up early this morning, checked the latest RSS feeds on one of my monitors, and as usual around 5am, New Zealand newsrooms were busy rolling out their fresh scheduled headlines. One of them stood out: “Māori mum Nicole Retter’s app PAM tops Tinder, Hinge in New Zealand app lifestyle rankings.”

David Farrar: Marsden Fund goes even more woke

In September I looked at the proportion of Marsden Fund grants that go towards actual science over time. The summary was:

Fiona Mackenzie: Need Public Healthcare? A name change may help.

At a recent speaking engagement, Sir Bob Jones said he had known Sir Tipene O’Regan before he was a Maori. Bob had apparently grown up with one Stephen O’Regan – a man who made the politically and financially rewarding decision to strengthen his Maori identity and change his name in middle age. 

Well, it may be time for all of us to start digging out an inner Polynesian. As the baby boomer bubble moves into old age and increasing demands are put on health resources, activist bureaucrats have announced plans for race-based financial control and preference in our public health system. Choosing to identify as a “Maori” or “Pacific Islander” may leapfrog you over other Kiwis.