The rates of partnering between Māori and non-Māori are high and always have been.
“Intermarriage with non-Maori contributed to the rapid growth of the Maori population in the post-war period. As at 2003, almost one-quarter of Maori children were born to non-Maori mothers, (Statistics New Zealand 2005).”
In 2013 fewer than half of Māori men had a Māori partner:
The corresponding figure for Māori females is 52 percent.
Furthermore, trend-wise:
“There has been a small but important decline in the proportion of partnered Māori who have a Māori partner. In 2001, 53% of partnered Māori men had a Māori partner. In 2013 this declined to 48%. For Māori women the decline was from 52% to 47%.”
These realities pose vital questions:
1/ Is there a pervasive appetite for separatism among people who have long been attracted to those outside their own race and culture?
2/ With institutions and services increasingly split along racial lines, where will individuals of mixed ethnicity fall? This is particularly pertinent in the case of Oranga Tamariki which is pursuing a policy of keeping ‘Maori’ children with ‘Maori’ relatives as a priority. When all aspects of the child’s well-being are considered, this may be the best course of action; equally, it might not.
John Tamihere famously said New Zealand’s future, “… is being decided in our bedrooms, not our boardrooms.” He also identifies as Māori more strongly than any other ethnicity, as is his right.
Since making that proclamation as Māori Affairs Minister in 2004, Tamihere has become a strong advocate for separate systems. As Māori Party president he appears more radical in his views than when a Labour MP.
Is he now in danger of forcing those of mixed ethnicity – even children – to make difficult, possibly unbearable decisions to meet the demands for tino rangitiratanga – ‘by Māori, for Māori?’
At the risk of sounding overly dramatic the phrase ‘Let no man put asunder’ might be a reminder to those who want to divide New Zealand that ultimately, individuals make their own life choices, and those choices are sacrosanct.
4 comments:
Lindsay, I once asked my beautiful Wahine Toa why she she chose a lumbering and bigoted Viking for a husband over a Tane from her own forest? Her answer surprised me.
While I still believe my killer smile and dashing good looks had much to do with it, she Suggested that in her young years, arranged marriages were frequently discussed and she didn't want to "marry a cousin."
Another negative for my wife was growing up in a culture where the heavy consumption of alcohol with its associated financial and emotional trauma was not a life she wanted..
Pictures of my Wahine's Grandfather in his role as respected Taranaki Kaumatua shown greeting Queen Elizabeth on her Royal Tour of 1953 are proudly displayed in our home.
My point is, it was he who encourage my lady to leave home and get an education and do something positive with her life. She did not disappoint him. A quiet lady, she is held in high regard by all who know and love her.
Many years ago it was suggested we were incompatible and a mixed relationship like ours would never work. She rode a Harley Davidson and I a Yamaha. We sorted it out, I bought a Harley.
When my mothers brothers wife died about 25 years ago he told us that she was the last of the full blooded Maori from Wairarapa. While he grew up in Porangahau and worked in the local post office for a couple of years before transferring out he had no Maori blood at all - even so he had a good knowledge of Maori lore and protocols.
In fact all of my mothers 12 siblings and her parents were considered by Porangahau Maori to be members of the local Maori community in every way. That was an honour not attributed to all Pakeha in the village and surrounding area.
The above comments show what a diverse, mixed and beautiful people we are here in this country. We should not let those who seek to divide us win.
Precisely but the Treaty troughers and consultants would not let facts get in the way of their feels.
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