robertguytonblog
"If the northern tribes could run a marae properly, New Zealand might have a more positive view of the Treaty."
What English is so ignorant of is the interconnectedness of Māori - we are all related. This meme of southern verses northern Māori is common as muck and often used to try and divide - I've heard it a million times and it doesn't work, it does the opposite - it binds us together. The dipstick from dipton has shown us, with this comment on a southern marae, what a lowlife he is and we can be thankful for that, even though anyone of a thinking disposition knows it already.
Hattip - robertguyton
8 comments:
Just so's no one thinks I made it up, I took the words from the Southland Times this morning -
"If the northern tribes could run a marae properly, he said, referring to the hecklers who stopped Mr Key, New Zealand might have a more positive view of the Treaty."
The article "Weighty issues at Bluff, but no protests" in the Southland Times also describes the apparent lack of interest in the asset sales issue/opposition, but that's certainly not what I was hearing at ground level. Perhaps Sir Tipene O'Regan had the ear of the media, rather.
Wow, that's just, wow. What Māori really need is the knowledge and experience Bill English brings in how to "run a marae properly". Then we can get ourselves on the right path. Thank gods he's awesome enough to let us know.
Probably a bit obvious to suggest, but I suspect if more New Zealanders like English took their heads out of their arses, NZ might have a more informed clue about the Treaty.
Ugh.
I'm unsuprised. But 1 other thing it is interesting they always say "NZ is one nation" but then make comments like this that clearly define Maori and "NZ" as opposites. Apparently "The Northen tribes" are not part of "NZ" which is good for me because I'm northern, sorry you're still stuck with them!
Kia ora Marty,
I spent the weekend up at Waitangi, and was fortunate enough to be welcomed to stay at the Kawiti Marae, my first such experience. Never have I been more welcome and it was an honour to stay and be treated to such hospitality at such an historic place in Maori activism. We were treated to korero from people such as Annette,Hone, Tame Iti, Mike Smith, Mereana Pittman, and especially the amazing Moana Jackson. Real eye opening stuff. As far as Bill English and the Gnats, I was right there on the grounds when smiling John Key and crew left the grounds. Standing with my young son amongst a group just watching peacefully. And I was there at the flag pole, again with my boy in the front row. The media beat up is beyond belief. The close up panned shots not even close to true reflection of what the scene was like. And the real knowledge was on the other end of the ground in the political tent. It was an amazing weekend. Kia kaha.
Robb
Ae, it's insulting, but by their words and their actions they are painting themselves into a very lonely corner.
Give 'em enough rope and they'll hang themselves...save our hands from the rope burn.
Do you really think the Chinese will give a damn about the "People of the Land" and their demands to be compensated for the fact that they were overcome by a more powerful people 150-odd years ago, or 200 years ago by the time the Chinese are running things? The Chinese don't believe in welfare, they believe in hard work and personal responsibility. If you think Westerners lack in the "inter-connectedness" stakes (Maori concept, really? More like 1960s discourse via Calafornia via Paris) then you're going to be in for a rude awakening.
I've been reading your blog for months now, along with other Maori blogs, and am astounded at the sense of entitlement that is displayed. Often I laugh, sometimes I feel a shot of anger for your childish demands to be provided for, but mostly I feel sad for you, because, ultimately, you are only making yourselves weaker - don't you realise that? Smoothing the pillows you demand...
Why do you think the Jews did so well in Europe? Why do you think the Chinese do so well in other often hostile environments? Because difficulty - real difficulty, not psychic - makes people stronger, harder, leaner. Over generations, this is cumulative, and instilled in people: it becomes culture.
Middle class kids do well because they never think of the dole, never think of applying for a State house, only ever think of providing for their families, who they actually care about (not just in principle), and succeed because of. When I first heard about Whanau Ora I had a good old belly laugh, admittedly a bitter one. Maori families care so little about each other that you have to pay to make them care about each other? I don't believe that, but I do believe that is what Maori families will come to expect - and so that will become part of your culture. And all the while, you will talk, talk, talk about how "Westerners" are individualistic and Maori communitarian!
How can you maintain this slave morality of yours? How can Maori on the one hand beat the hell out of their kids and then claim that Maori were never violent to children in "the good old days"? How can you claim Maori are more "spiritual" when Maori are so over-represented in statistics for what used to be called sins-of-the-flesh - rape statistics, drug and alcohol abuse statistics, et al? How can you claim Maori are not exploiters when Sealord employs slave labour in New Zealand waters for bare-faced profit and sees no problem with this?
Get your own Marae in order. If you want self-determination, pay for it your god-dam selves. My Scottish ancestors stripped off them, half of them were murdered, and their culture and language was banned. Others were forced to work in factories from the age of 10 or younger and were illiterate, but their decendants, for the most part, are all extremely successful despite this.
The world doesn't care that your great-great granddaddy had a lot of land; the world doesn't care that mine had none.
The longer Maori hold on to past greviences, the less they will be able to face the future. The more you come to expect without working your asses off to improve your lot like everybody else, the weaker you will grow.
I appreciate that a lot of Maori don't do that, and are successful - on their own terms. That's entirely my point. You should seek to understand the concept of slave morality. I think you will be embarrassed when - if - you grasp it, because it describes your mindset exactly.
WAKE UP or in another 150 years your decendants will be twice as fat, stupid, lazy - let's not mince words here, immoral - without (real) values or (real) pride.
Kia Kaha - and I mean that.
you've covered a lot of ground there anon and I'll give you a decent response but may take a few days cos I working at the moment.
Kia ora anon
Firstly thanks for writing down your thoughts and posting them anon, I appreciate it.
I’m opposed to selling the land to anyone not just the Chinese. I think the buying and selling of land is a concept that comodifies the land and that commodification is dangerous for everyone. I just don’t believe that land or other natural resources should be treated that way – for profit. I don’t like or agree with capitalism and I see the damage created by it all over this country and around the world. I know the arguments regarding what alternatives are better and so on, and I think there are better alternaives that support people, communities and the environment in a more sustainable and user friendly way.
In terms of the “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” line – well the Māori Nation isn’t dead and it is growing stronger every day. There was a concerted effort to assimilate and/or destroy Māori and this was led by government and supported by colonisation and some of these people misguidedly thought they were doing indigenous people a favour, to further the grand scheme of progress. The resistance to that has taken many forms over the years and here in 2012 it is taking its current iteration. For me equality is a basic human right that cannot be compromised. It is the basis of our humanity and our connection to each other.
I also believe in positive discrimination and setting the pendulum to effect this. Sadly history has shown that well meaning words do very little – equality must be created so that everyone gets used to it and it becomes normal. That means delivery of government programs specifically designed for disadvantaged groups and that is how I see whanau ora. No one is saying it is perfect but it does recognise the holistic nature of the disadvantage people face and it attempts to build on the holistic nature of any response to that disadvantage. I don’t agree with blaming people for their disadvantage or the various negative statistics that show that.
Just one point here I am not saying that Māori are more spiritual or interconnected than other peoples but inherent within the Māori worldview is the spiritual and interconnected aspects and that is the strength of Māori belief systems and that is also the antidote to the current mindset that covers our society.
I notice that many Scottish people want independence and it is a big issue at the moment and I am sure that my Scottish ancestors would be right there fighting for that too.
The wheels are coming off the current system and the virtues of capitalism, patriarchy and the colonising mindset are distasteful for many. It is a dry fruit with no juice, no flavour and no hope. New models will have to be created and past models offer hope because they actually worked – they are proven. How everything manifests into the future will be up to the people and around the world their voices are beginning to be heard.
Success is subjective and we measure it very narrowly today via money and accumulation of worthless trinkets. If you go to a marae you will see success measured differently.
Anyway just some thoughts regarding your thoughts – please don’t make the mistake of thinking I am speaking for anyone other than myself. My view may be romantic, unrealistic and silly but I believe in the values I have discussed wholeheartedly and I’ll use this blog to promote those views as long as I can.
Kia kaha to you too anon – we must all stay strong for the times ahead.
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