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As part of our drive to keep our comment section the best in New Zealand we showcase each week an example of a top-notch comment that adds value to The BFD.
Today’s comment was written by George Thank you George for taking the time to craft such an interesting comment.
John Tamihere – NZ Herald 31 March – “You are crying separatism? Try being Maori”.
John, you described NZ society as split in two, “mainstream” and Maori. Your definition is therefore assuming NZ is a mixture of six “mainstream” groupings, European, Asian, Pacifica, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African. Which leaves just one exclusive ethnic group, Maori.
The guts of your article is “indigenous” people putting their hands up and saying “What about me?” You then go on to write “What gives the “mainstream” the entitlement to believe that you can continue to take my money, spent it for me, then tell me I am a failure?” It is a question I could well ask you John on behalf of the “mainstream”. It is you, and your like that continues to take our money, spend it, but not on “mainstream”, then you tell us that the “mainstream” is the failure.
Maintaining your concerns, you go on to say, “Funding on the vaccination of Maori was only 0.2% of what the”mainstream” got despite Maori making up 17% of the population”. I would like to ask you what evidence you have which specifically excluded Maori from having access to the original funding designed to have all NZers vaccinated? None of course, so factually those of Maori ethnicity had access to more resources per head than the “mainstream”.
I would also like you to explain why it was so difficult to access a vaccine centre for those Maoris who desired the procedure? The reason I ask is that at most centres the personnel employed, whether they were parking wardens, receptionists, nurses or security were primarily Maori. It appears those who were motivated had no difficulty in turning up to work each day at the centres. What differentiates their attitude from those who you are characterising?
But John, you do get it right sometimes. In 2004 as an MP you were asked the question, “What is a New Zealander?” I remind you of your response.
“Someone who sings Pokarekare ana, pissed at 3 am in a London pub. A member of a school kapa haka group in West Auckland. A kid who goes to Christ’s College. A kid who goes to a kura kaupapa in South Auckland. A baby. A grandmother. A chief executive. A solo mum. A millionaire. A beneficiary. My mother and father. Your Mum and Dad. My children. Your children. Their children’s children. You. Me.
Someone who thinks everyone deserves a fair go. Someone who will give anything a go. Someone who doesn’t have much truck with airs and graces and social status. Someone who likes to have a bit of a whinge, but at the end of the day knows that being a Kiwi is the best thing in the world”.
Maori John, you have become a grumpy old man just like “mainstream” me. Grumpy must be colour-blind.
