Biting the hand that feeds me

I get annoyed when I read letters such as those written by P Dey and M Leabourn as published in The Weekend Sun of November 4. Regardless of who got here first (P Dey's letter), Maori lore has told us forever that when they arrived on these shores they were met by a fair-skinned race of people. Their history, handed down by word of mouth, also states they copulated with this race of people before they killed them or ran them off to what is now The Chatham Islands. Thus began the dilution of the Maori bloodline, which continued unabated with every subsequent race who helped to colonise NZ. The race of people we now call Maori is so diluted as to be non-existent, and members are permitted to claim Maori blood if in fact they 'feel like Maori”. With regard to M Leabourn's letter other races and countries have been colonised and have adapted to their new way of life without too much difficulty, so why not Maori? Before the arrival of the colonisers, Maori were basically a stone age people who had the most basic weaponry and apparently led a hunter gatherer existence. They were a warrior people and were well on the way to extinction, by means of fighting and killing themselves when the British arrived. And when Queen Victoria offered them the same rights as British subjects they accepted with no questions asked. It is the modern day interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi and in my view the benevolence of successive governments which has compounded the plight of Maori along with their reluctance to drag themselves into the 20th or 21st Centuries. It is a statement of their ability to succeed, when you see the success a lot of Maoris make of their life when they get out from under the welfare system of NZ and make a new life for themselves across the ditch or in any other country. As for their culture, if my people headed the statistics for incarceration, poor education, teenage pregnancy etc etc etc I would be doing everything in my power to turn them around and make it a people to be proud of. And I certainly would not be biting the hand that feeds me as appears to be the case today.

P Burrell, Katikati.

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13 comments

The best-ever letter on this subject!

Posted on 26-11-2016 10:04 | By Cydifor

I too find the ongoing comments from previous writers to be ungrateful for what actually happened to Maori. They were about to become extinct through their infighting - colonisation saved their race. To continually look backwards is to not progress as a people. P. Dey often comments on how the treaty settlement payments do not reach the level he feels they should. He overlooks that it was an unimproved land which the settlers came to and had to be broken in. Maori did not own it all as much land was empty, they only "owned" their land until another tribe came along and fought them for it. The stats. mentioned in this letter are sadly only too true. You cannot blame the prison system because more Maori commit crime. You cannot blame the "Pakeha" system of governance because Maori had no real system of governance. Look forward, not backwards!


No one is blaming anyone.

Posted on 26-11-2016 11:24 | By R. Bell

This subject is simply being used to express extreme "political" views. Peter Dey has never said settlements do not reach a level he feels they should. He merely points out the fact that Maori have settled for what the country can afford, far less than true value. Maori owned this country by occupation. Their population GREW from a few hundred, after arriving to well over one hundred thousand by the time Cooke arrived. They did fight among themselves, as did the British and all other groups. It was only after the Pakeha introduced firearms and disease that the population declined. The above letter relies on mythology and misinformation,and is therefore invalid. Robin Bell.


Some non-facts for P.Burrell and Cydifor

Posted on 26-11-2016 11:44 | By Peter Dey

The best scientific evidence shows that New Zealand had no inhabitants when Maori arrived. The Maori fairy stories that P.Burrell are not fact. To be Maori you have to be descended from a Maori. The statement that you can be Maori if you feel Maori is not a fact. The Maori race who currently run marae, Maori cultural activities, Maori education, and Maori television, and still speak the Maori language are all forward looking. To describe the Maori race as non-existent is not a fact. When Europeans arrived in New Zealand Maori population was about 100,000 the expected number starting from about 100 arrivals in 1280AD. They had a life expectancy of about 30 years, the same as Europe at that time (check Wikipedia). Maori extinction without colonisation is not a fact. The musket wars took a huge toll but Maori ended those themselves.


Peter Dey and R. Bell - a question

Posted on 26-11-2016 16:54 | By Cydifor

Why then did northern Maori write to King William asking him to help stop the infighting between the tribes? I heard a woman teacher tell of 18 Maori students she was helping to prepare for polytech. The numbers dwindled down to five students who actually made the grade. One sad girl told her why. It seems the family criticised her for "going to join Whitey" and "soon you will be too good to speak to us" - it was their own families who discouraged education and a future for those young Maori people. What of the teenage pregnancy rate as most are young Maori women, too young for the responsibility of raising a child in a stable home! Some continue education, many are too young and use the benefit as a career choice, then follows baby no 2 and 3..etc. Then along comes the boyfriend, equally young...............!


Cydifor

Posted on 27-11-2016 09:08 | By R. Bell

you certainly have the jitters, a possible answer to your problem would to meet and involve yourself with real people,rather than relying on anecdotal nonsense and rank generalizations. Social limitations and a lack of proper education often lead to the ignorance you speak of. It occurs in all societies, you concentrate only on Maori, why? For EVERY failure you mention I and of course Peter can quote numerous success stories. To answer your question, northern Maori wrote for protection because by then the introduction of firearms, (by you know who) had completely upset the manner of warfare. Only then and later colonization led to the threat on Maori survival. Robin Bell.


Muskets changed the game

Posted on 27-11-2016 09:20 | By Peter Dey

Before Europeans arrived Maori had a stable society with life expectancy of 30 years the same as Europe at that time. The tribal fighting was between individuals with only hand held weapons. Some Maori asked the British king to help because it was British muskets that changed the game. But Maori as a whole realised that they were on a path to destruction with muskets and were ready to stop the destruction before it became final. It was Maori leadership and Maori Christians not only Colonial rule that brought the musket fighting under control.


Cydifor, you seem blind to Maori education

Posted on 27-11-2016 09:28 | By Peter Dey

Quoting isolated examples of Maori discouraging education proves nothing. We have kohanga, primary Maori kura, secondary wharekura. tertiary whare wananga, and increasing numbers of Maori in tertiary education. These are all forward looking actions. The story of Maori at present is a story of steady progress. Nobody is biting any hand that feeds. Maori are just getting on with progress.


I know many fine Maori people but have a problem

Posted on 27-11-2016 17:00 | By Cydifor

with those whose hand is forever stuck out for more and more funding - simply because they can!. Certainly the muskets were a problem but nobody made Maori use them, Hongi Hika stopped in Sydney on his way back from England to buy muskets with which to annhilate more of his countrymen - quite a bloodbath and not the fault of the British. Many Maori are doing well educationally and socially and I give them credit for that, There are dead-beat families from all races ditto the ones I mentioned who criticised their daughter for wanting to achieve. What of the greed of Maori Party Whatarangi Winiata who seriously said that he would consider a treaty claim for the stars as Kupe used them to navigate his way to this country? Is that to come out of my tax? Hell No! Why are the stats for Maori so bad?


Mr Dey and Mr Bell,

Posted on 27-11-2016 22:58 | By groutby

Apart from there being "no way through" the impass clearly between yourselves and other writers, can I ask for a very specific (please answer the question with an answer not another question) as suggested by the initial letter by P Burrell, as to why statistics stack up so badly for Maori in terms of why there is indeed an "over representation" of those within the representation of Maori in our crime. incarceration, pregnancy, unemployment and most other badass stats in our country, OVER represented Mr Bell and Mr Dey, I would like to understand the answer to this specific question posed by the initial writer, if we are to "live as one people", then shouldn't these stats (sad as they are for any community) be reasonably balanced at least. The answer to this specific question would be welcomed.


Cydifor, and groutby.

Posted on 28-11-2016 09:01 | By R. Bell

In fifty five years of intimate involvement in a predominately Maori family, I have never,ever, not once heard a parent', Maori or otherwise castigate their child for wanting further education. It is unmitigated nonsense,and so rare as to be more anecdotal mischief. groutby, the answer to your question is far more complex. I'm sure Peter is more able than I am to answer it. From personal experience I do know that inter-generational poverty (relative) plus poor education, not targeted to Maori needs and differences, a feeling of inadequacy, leading to alcohol and or substance abuse, all plus many more contribute. If you add the constant bickering and accusations of "race based"privilege you get the perfect recipe for more of the same Robin Bell.


Excellent question Groutby

Posted on 28-11-2016 10:06 | By Peter Dey

At the time of colonisation in 1840 Maori were remarkably self sufficient. Pakeha Governments then systematically undermined that ability for over 100 years. Treaty settlements currently are paying compensation of $3 billion for over $30 billion of land taken with no allowance for 100 years of lost income. The justice, health, and education systems all discriminated against Maori for over 100 years. Maori have been gradually working their way back to self sufficiency and prosperity but parents without solid financial resources and education themselves cannot produce well educated and prosperous children. We are now a more tolerant society but Maori have had to struggle all the way to get to this. The education system still disadvantages Maori, not deliberately but it still does, and that, (but not only that), leads directly to bad statistics.


Answer the question!

Posted on 28-11-2016 10:38 | By Cydifor

According to Buddy Mikaere, the stats are indeed low for Maori and the question is WHY? I am puzzled as to why Maori health is even in question as they have the same access to doctors, hospitals and treatment. Surely the reason is they do not seek help when ill which makes their health their own responsibility As for incarceration, the only reason is that more crime is committed by them, and that could be the influence of the gangs. It would be so nice to simply be just Kiwis as we used to be. My best friend at college was a lovely Maori girl - and guess what - I did not even notice she was Maori, she was simply my friend! As for living under "Pakeha" governance, pre-colonisation Maori did not appear to have any laws so law and order under the Westminster system works!


Cydifor

Posted on 29-11-2016 08:43 | By R. Bell

you question "why Maori health is in Question" and then go on to answer your own question. As usual incorrectly. Maori health needs are often very different to the general population. For instance diabetes thresholds are lower for Maori than Pakeha. Early detection is critical and saves the tax payer from the cost of emergency treatment. Many Maori are not comfortable in the care of unsympathetic doctors, hence the need for targeted care, that you call a privilege. Being oblivious to the obvious benefit to all citizens. Robin Bell


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