Toxicity and disinformation are becoming a big part of New Zealand politics. And much of this relates to debates about ethnicity, race, and racism. We should all be concerned about this trend. Personal abuse, dishonesty, and contempt in the public sphere are bad for democracy, social cohesion, and the integrity of the political system.
Thank you for having the courage and honesty to publish this. I am Māori and agree the only racism I am seeing within NZ society is coming from Māori directed at non Maori.
Māori are also being called racist, or plastic Māori if we do not agree with the current narrative of particularly the Māori Party.
I have experienced this first hand, as I have initiated a judicial review on behalf of my community, against Tupuna Maunga Authority and Auckland Council in December 2023, to stop the clear felling of exotic trees at our local park and reserve of Mount Richmond Otahuhu. We are still awaiting the decision from Justice Tahana.
It has been a costly, humiliating, and degrading experience for us. I have never seen Tikanga Māori disrespected like this in my lifetime.
As an old, white immigrant pakeha, I have watched racial discrimination at first hand to none-whites, ethnic minorities and people who do not meet the stereotype white expectations portrayed by so many. No pakeha can understand what it feels like to be other than a pakeha. I have a close relative who is highly educated, served in the diplomatic service for our country and is part Maori. They openly say they are sick and tired of the racist attitudes. Both from white because they are brown and full Maori because they are not.
Worst still, the arrogance of politicians from the right towards the rest of us is appalling. No wonder they are roundly abused.
So, your article is correct in saying TMP is aggressive towards others. But that aggression is a reflection of the years that NZ has treated them so badly from colonial times.
I hate racialism as much as I hate neoliberalism and the inequality & poverty I see in NZ today but I clearly understand why. It’s the right-wing neoliberal political ethos that is the root of NZ’s problems, not the TMP!
I too dislike neoliberalism, but isnt that what we have had from leftwing labour for 6 years ? Havent we now got right wing conservatives in power now, who want to get rid of neoliberal policies ? It can be confusing.
I agree the last Labour govt had neoliberal tendencies but this lot we now have are far worse as they are cruel, cynical and corrupt. Luxon is ineffective and lead by the nose by the other two. The budget will confirm how cynical they are. Tax cuts for landlords when poverty, inequality and collapsing infrastructure and public services are so bad? Really!!
It’s interesting that your treatise focuses solely on Karen Chhour and the vitriol she has encountered over her stance vis-a-vis Oranga Tamariki as the basis for your argument. If life teaches us anything it is that to base one’s world view or in this case a government policy on personal experience is problematic. One might rightly accuse the minister of acting on emotion rather than evidence or best practice in formulating a policy for all. When factoring that she is a member of an extreme right wing ‘outlier’ party with a national representation of 8.6% at the last election, it can be argued that emotions over her bill will inevitably run high. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that the broad blocks to the centre Right and left of the electorate are increasingly alarmed at the pace and nature of change that is occurring and of the excessive influence that two minor parties are making to the social and economic landscape of New Zealand. Returning to your point, if your thesis is based solely on the toxicity aimed at one Māori, then the premise for your argument would be equally flawed. The vilification of brown skinned women of the last government at the hands of members of The National Party whilst lacking such incendiary language as used by Te Pati Māori recently was no less harmful nor destructive in its intent. A question might ask why your commentary hasn’t balanced ‘toxic ethnicity wars’ with other historic instances. Deploring the manner of Te Pati Māoris message should not of itself mitigate against hearing the broad message they speak. It can be argued that Te Pati Māori has not been part of the problem that has seen so many children suffer abuse and neglect at the hands of either parents or caregivers, be they state controlled or private individuals, but they have a strong belief that they want to be part of the solution and that whanau should be consulted
Those views won't be widely held among most Maoris. Just loud mouth activists views. Nothing radical about them either. Just lazy opportunists living the high life. I agree with the Minister. Love, stability, structure etc. It's great for children in general but it can literally save hurt children's Iives.
Thank you for having the courage and honesty to publish this. I am Māori and agree the only racism I am seeing within NZ society is coming from Māori directed at non Maori.
Māori are also being called racist, or plastic Māori if we do not agree with the current narrative of particularly the Māori Party.
I have experienced this first hand, as I have initiated a judicial review on behalf of my community, against Tupuna Maunga Authority and Auckland Council in December 2023, to stop the clear felling of exotic trees at our local park and reserve of Mount Richmond Otahuhu. We are still awaiting the decision from Justice Tahana.
It has been a costly, humiliating, and degrading experience for us. I have never seen Tikanga Māori disrespected like this in my lifetime.
Thank you for having the courage and honesty to publish this. I am Māori and agree the only racism I am seeing within NZ society is coming from Māori directed at non Maori.
Māori are also being called racist, or plastic Māori if we do not agree with the current narrative of particularly the Māori Party.
I have experienced this first hand, as I have initiated a judicial review on behalf of my community, against Tupuna Maunga Authority and Auckland Council in December 2023, to stop the clear felling of exotic trees at our local park and reserve of Mount Richmond Otahuhu. We are still awaiting the decision from Justice Tahana.
It has been a costly, humiliating, and degrading experience for us. I have never seen Tikanga Māori disrespected like this in my lifetime.
Shirley Waru.
Aotearoa NZ needs a clear, long-term socialist alternative to the corrupt Labour Party, which still disguises itself as something it's not.
As an old, white immigrant pakeha, I have watched racial discrimination at first hand to none-whites, ethnic minorities and people who do not meet the stereotype white expectations portrayed by so many. No pakeha can understand what it feels like to be other than a pakeha. I have a close relative who is highly educated, served in the diplomatic service for our country and is part Maori. They openly say they are sick and tired of the racist attitudes. Both from white because they are brown and full Maori because they are not.
Worst still, the arrogance of politicians from the right towards the rest of us is appalling. No wonder they are roundly abused.
So, your article is correct in saying TMP is aggressive towards others. But that aggression is a reflection of the years that NZ has treated them so badly from colonial times.
I hate racialism as much as I hate neoliberalism and the inequality & poverty I see in NZ today but I clearly understand why. It’s the right-wing neoliberal political ethos that is the root of NZ’s problems, not the TMP!
I too dislike neoliberalism, but isnt that what we have had from leftwing labour for 6 years ? Havent we now got right wing conservatives in power now, who want to get rid of neoliberal policies ? It can be confusing.
I agree the last Labour govt had neoliberal tendencies but this lot we now have are far worse as they are cruel, cynical and corrupt. Luxon is ineffective and lead by the nose by the other two. The budget will confirm how cynical they are. Tax cuts for landlords when poverty, inequality and collapsing infrastructure and public services are so bad? Really!!
It’s interesting that your treatise focuses solely on Karen Chhour and the vitriol she has encountered over her stance vis-a-vis Oranga Tamariki as the basis for your argument. If life teaches us anything it is that to base one’s world view or in this case a government policy on personal experience is problematic. One might rightly accuse the minister of acting on emotion rather than evidence or best practice in formulating a policy for all. When factoring that she is a member of an extreme right wing ‘outlier’ party with a national representation of 8.6% at the last election, it can be argued that emotions over her bill will inevitably run high. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that the broad blocks to the centre Right and left of the electorate are increasingly alarmed at the pace and nature of change that is occurring and of the excessive influence that two minor parties are making to the social and economic landscape of New Zealand. Returning to your point, if your thesis is based solely on the toxicity aimed at one Māori, then the premise for your argument would be equally flawed. The vilification of brown skinned women of the last government at the hands of members of The National Party whilst lacking such incendiary language as used by Te Pati Māori recently was no less harmful nor destructive in its intent. A question might ask why your commentary hasn’t balanced ‘toxic ethnicity wars’ with other historic instances. Deploring the manner of Te Pati Māoris message should not of itself mitigate against hearing the broad message they speak. It can be argued that Te Pati Māori has not been part of the problem that has seen so many children suffer abuse and neglect at the hands of either parents or caregivers, be they state controlled or private individuals, but they have a strong belief that they want to be part of the solution and that whanau should be consulted
Those views won't be widely held among most Maoris. Just loud mouth activists views. Nothing radical about them either. Just lazy opportunists living the high life. I agree with the Minister. Love, stability, structure etc. It's great for children in general but it can literally save hurt children's Iives.
Thank you for having the courage and honesty to publish this. I am Māori and agree the only racism I am seeing within NZ society is coming from Māori directed at non Maori.
Māori are also being called racist, or plastic Māori if we do not agree with the current narrative of particularly the Māori Party.
I have experienced this first hand, as I have initiated a judicial review on behalf of my community, against Tupuna Maunga Authority and Auckland Council in December 2023, to stop the clear felling of exotic trees at our local park and reserve of Mount Richmond Otahuhu. We are still awaiting the decision from Justice Tahana.
It has been a costly, humiliating, and degrading experience for us. I have never seen Tikanga Māori disrespected like this in my lifetime.
Shirley Waru.
I think Haimona Grays candid commentary is very insightful, and I think that could be because He is actually a She. I think Im right.