Here we go with the "extreme rhetoric" hit words. This time it is Parekura Horomia describing Don Brash saying that there are few if any full-blooded Maori left.
I have long held that to tell the truth today is a radical action.
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I'm more concerned with why Brash's Orewa speach is categorised as "infamous" by the DomPost. Balanced Journalism?
People will forgive you anything but the truth.
It's my belief that Brash should revisit his policies on Maori issues. Brash's comment is too dismissive of Maoris' right to identify with their own culture, irrespective of whether they are part or full blooded. By his comment Brash has implied that Maori should follow Pakeha traditions and not Maori traditions, the assumption that one culture is better than the other is just plain arrogance.
I think Brash could lose the next election by having such "colonial" policies.
Gloria
I can't answer for Brash but I think he was speaking about the difficulties in running parallel legal, institutional and even social systems without a definition of what qualifies one as Maori. His response was to Judge Baragwanath's ideas about a separate justice system for Maori. If one existed, would Maori be allowed to pick between that and the other system depending on what whakapapa or lineage they chose to nominate? They have choice but nobody else does? It all becomes quickly unworkable. I have some sympathy with what you are saying Gloria. Maori should be allowed to follow their traditions if that is what they want. But in the greater scheme of things we need to live under the same legal structures and tax system. The alternative is complete separatism. Unthinkable.
Throughout the modern history of New Zealand, Maori have, through peaceful protest, intelligent debate, and just plain ol' balls-to-the-walls stubborness; managed to keep their culture alive in a way no other colonised nation has.
While I agree we need one law for all, the representation of Maori culture needs to be represented and maintained by all corners of government before we start dismantling what little there is of it right at this moment. By removing the Maori seats in parliament, Don Brash will be doing a great disservice to all New Zealand. I beleive Maori culture has influenced us all far more than most people realise, and I beleive, that kind of strength should be encouraged.
All that taxpayer money didn't hurt, either...
They don't have a reputation for pulling any proverbial punches either, something you can identify with perhaps?
Maori have every right to their own culture....and the responsibility for it, no one else.
Hi Lindsay
Isn't it funny the way the press look for ways to deconstruct dialogue rather than create or assist healthy dialogue.
I really don't know what being Maori is anymore.
Don Brash was highlighting a very important point, what is Maori?
More importantly how could or should it affect how our society works?
But then why not the same for Asian, Arabic and African New Zealanders too?
Let's say we allow separate systems but the sentence must be the same regardless.
We are a multicutiral society NOT bi-cultural.
We have to have a core system of values and laws to co-exist.
This will be reflected in our state systems.
The alternative is a fractionated system with all the attendant costs and inefficiencies.
Maybe the question should be what is a New Zealander and what do they believe in?
Sorry
Michael mckee - seatoun
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