February 6th has always meant two things to me. My father’s birthday – 83 today, and of course Waitangi day.
Sadly with Covid the usual Waitangi ceremonies have been cancelled this year. There will be precious little opportunity for the media to elevate the voices of a few minor protests out of all proportion.
Above those of people gathering positively to acknowledge past wrongdoings, the ongoing impact of them, who want an Aotearoa based on partnership and especially on this day a conversation about how to make the future fairer.
Don’t get wrong I think protest is important, and who could not enjoy Don Brash getting mud thrown at him or Steven Joyce getting a dildo to the face? But the focus on just these few voices, on protest events, by the media has created a very different and inaccurate picture to what the experience is for most people who take part in Waitangi events up north.
Then there are other voices; voices that say leave the past in the past, that say enough is enough. Those who bizarrely would have us believe that Maori are now in a privileged position due to measures to compensate for the past, measures which are tiny in the scheme of things.
Playing into their hands this year the announcement of every new vaccination rollout initiative has seen a question from the media asking how Maori will be ‘prioritised’. Don Brash and his Hobson’s Pledge crowd must rub their hands together in glee. It is lazy journalism, why not instead a question asking how we achieve similar outcomes for all?
When the media uses words like ‘prioritise’ they are feeding not only the prejudices of the overt racists who attend Dr Brash’s meetings but also of the less openly, perhaps even less consciously, racist at Simon Bridges’ meeting down the road. Stoking the resentment of the pearls and sausage roll set who got where they are through hard work - so why should some other group need to be prioritised?
They will proudly proclaim that they are an xth generation New Zealander while ignoring the fact that their forebears may well have benefited from the illegal seizure of land from the ancestors of the group who shouldn’t now need to be “prioritised”
This vaccination rollout has brought us face to face with differences by race. Lower rates in places with a higher Maori population be it Northland, the East Coast, or the Bay of Plenty, are no doubt frustrating for all involved – and for those who have watched it play out on TV.
It is easy when we see the lower rates, even for those who have an understanding of history, who understand why affirmative action policies are needed to address present inequalities, to put our hands up and say - for goodness sake just take the vaccine; you have the same opportunities as everyone else. Wouldn’t that be simple?
It boils down to one thing either you believe people are inherently less able to avail themselves of education or health services due to their race - in other words racism. Or that the playing field is not even, disadvantage is alive and well, continues to impact outcomes, and needs to be addressed. There is no third option.
Many years ago at a time when I was a bit big for my boots my aunty Jo sat me down and had a quiet word. She spoke of the importance of bringing people together, of bringing people forward with us, of understanding each other. It would be almost 25 years ago – I’ve never forgotten it.
I hear the same voice from Jacinda as that from my aunty Jo, it is strong and it is wise. I think Jo would have liked this Prime Minister.
Listen to her words when she speaks today, they will be of bringing people together. Compare them to words of other politicians who wish to draw a line under things; there will be time enough for leaving the past in the past when there is no more resultant inequality in the present.
Don’t be afraid of things like Three Waters – no one is trying to steal the water, it just needs to be managed better than it has been by a myriad of local councils – no one can argue that the current outcomes are good.
Don’t be afraid of Ihumatao – read the history, understand the past. I guarantee that if you do you will not consider addressing this issue as “Maori privilege”.
We are human beings our ears are not designed for hearing dog whistles, if you start hearing them find an aunty* and have a chat. Oh and call out those blowing the bloody things.
Take care all of you lovely people, especially those who acknowledge the past and have a desire to address the inequality of the present. On this special day for our country and in the words of uncle Bob - someone who means a lot to many New Zealanders and was also born on this day, “Let's get together and feel all right”.
Thanks Jo, and Happy Birthday Dad.
*may not be your actual aunty.
Well said
Spot on! I'm with you, and the PM. We need more, many more, decent people.