Here’s the story …..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/25/new-zealand-fake-maori-performers

It’s amazing how things happen … !!! … was having a drink on Friday night and got introduced to a Kiwi who was in discussion about issues surrounding race and all the ‘isms that surround it, he was quick to point out how blatantly racist a lot of Aussies are, and the fact that to this day, Aborigines are still deemed to be 2nd class citizens in, what is, essentially, their own land !!!

We then went on to briefly discuss the issues of race within the UK which, has direct links to the Aussies, on numerous levels, as many have ancestry directly linked to the exporting of English Criminals to Oz way back when they were, in many cases, indoctrinated into, so-called religious orders to be supposedly, reformed.

Well, those reforms were subject to some things that were and are abhorrent in terms of their abusive natures, especially, in many cases because of their sexual depravity.

Anyhow, the idea was that, in discussing these issues, we could quickly determine which ….

(amongst these 3 countries, which due to their colonial ties, etc, could all be deemed as having embraced many facets of, and are therefore, extensions of British society),

…. had or have the worst track record with regard to issues of this type.

Having explained that, as much as I have a problem with how some Aussies are, I feel less comfortable with a breed of people, who are subtle about their true feelings, especially when it comes to attitudes about immigrants and race in general.

As far as I’m concerned, one such group, in my experience, has been an uncomfortably high proportion of the English !!!

My Kiwi friend’s response was that the racism over here is latent as opposed to the rather more blatant variety now found in Australia, which we both agreed upon.

Now, the reason for telling you all this is because, when it came to talking about the issues surrounding the Maoris as the indigenous populous of what is known as New Zealand, I suggested that much still needs to be done in terms of recognition and more importantly respect being given to the Maoris.

My Kiwi friend was quick to point out that the Maori’s are now at least, not in the same boat as the majority of Aborigines are, a sentiment that has it’s levels of truth for sure, but, beyond the All Blacks and the odd great movie that at least raises the profile of the Maori’s, like, “Once Were Warriors”, (a must see movie I’d highly recommend if you haven’t seen it !!!), I suggested that there clearly are a great many issues in terms of how the Maori’s are viewed and treated even today.

Well, doing my usual rumble through news stories that interest me, I stumbled upon the above story about Europeans & Israeli’s painting themselves with Maori tattoos to entice visiting tourists to have pictures taken with, “Maoris in TRADITIONAL dress !!!”

The German / English / Maori director of this organisation … !?! … Terina Puriri suggests that, “Some of our Maori are too slack to promote themselves. Some of our Maori are too lazy to get out of bed to do that,”.

An interesting quote which brings me back to my convo with my. “non-Maori looking”, Kiwi friend and some of his comments.

Ms. Puriri may well be right, but it doesn’t exactly help to promote a positive image for Maori’s when one who has foreign blood in her, is using foreigners to deceive people into believing they’re getting to meet and be greeted by real Maoris !?!

It’s amazing how things happen sometimes, but, there you have it, but what’s your view … ? … are you a Kiwi … ? … do you feel that Ms. Puriri’s comments are right or that her actions are, somewhat disturbing, as is the case in my thinking.

This kind of stereotyping and abuse of, the heritage of a people within their own country is, in my opinion, a disgrace, it’s been going on for too long now and needs to be stopped.

However, business is business right …. well, if my assessment of the Maori’s, as I see them, is remotely close to the truth, my view is that maybe, morally, they have more integrity than this wannabee Maori who’s basically raping the culture for a profit.

Well, clearly not anymore ….. Thankfully …..

Just something for y’all to think about …..

Peace y’all …. I’m out.

Permalink | January 25th, 2010

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