tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post5904696776283481302..comments2024-03-28T00:33:53.397+13:00Comments on Local Bodies: Embracing DiversityDave Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-87433984339483014712016-01-31T08:36:26.382+13:002016-01-31T08:36:26.382+13:00No problem with the lecture, we can all learn some...No problem with the lecture, we can all learn something new. Far to much of our own countries short history has never been recorded or embraced as part of our education system. We tend to celebrate what isn't about NZ. And with our own to much is overlooked because it was swept under the carpet. Like the suicide rates amongst returning soldiers in 1918/9. I have been working on putting together the story of my father who spent time in a concentration camp during WW2. It was against the Geneva convention so in 1962 the Germans paid the British soldiers compensation. The Australian and NZ Govt argued none of their soldiers had been held in such places against strong evidence even going as far as saying the concentration camp my father had spent time in never existed. It was still behind the Iron Curtain back then so could argue that. Finally in 1979 they accepted that 16 Kiwi and around 40 Australian servicemen has spent time in theses places and those who were alive got a small payout. Why they argued is beyond me but shows that it is not just the minorities that can be treated badly or discriminated against. <br />Those are the stories that need recorded and should become part of our NZ History education. Onc we fully understand the true unedited NZ history we will see why we need to change moving forward Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05382079326851047281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-1111053706135788752016-01-30T21:41:25.522+13:002016-01-30T21:41:25.522+13:00Philip, when the Treaty was signed a higher % of M...Philip, when the Treaty was signed a higher % of Maori could read and write than Europeans, they owned all the flour mills and owned ships that they used for trading goods in Australia and the US. There was nothing economically backward about Maori until they were forced of their productive land, refused money from banks because they didn't have single title to their land and were blocked from retaining their economic dominance. Metiria Turei's Dad had no choice but be a labourer and they struggled to live in a decent house because few people liked renting to Maoris. <br /><br />Being marginalised for multiple generations creates disfunctional behaviour, it wasn't just cultural ignorance in policies but the ongoing colonisation that has pushed Maori to the margins of society. <br /><br />ww.teara.govt.nz/en/te-maori-i-te-ohanga-maori-in-the-economy/page-3<br /><br />Sorry about the lecture, but I did a Treaty workshop with our Young Greens when I was supporting their Summer Camp and it has been uppermost in my mind. <br /><br />I agree that law and order has become a political debate every election but the the causes of crime are never addressed while the punishments and length of sentences continue to rise. <br />Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-56010322813693608322016-01-29T23:48:39.505+13:002016-01-29T23:48:39.505+13:00I think what I am trying to say is that at grass r...I think what I am trying to say is that at grass roots there is an acceptance that all people are not born equal. Various government policies have failed Maori such as forcing them into South Auckland many years ago in order to provide cheap labour. Such policies never took into consideration cultural aspects of their life and over subsequent years this migration flow has proven to have caused huge issues.<br />Schools embrace cultural diversity today and that's where progress come from.<br />I doubt we will see a government in our lifetime brave enough to take on the prison inequality problem as it will lift the lid on some poor decision making over many years. There has been a big shift in how prisons are run and Invercargill is a good example where huge money keeps being spent on security and razor wire when only a very few have ever escaped. Just crazy and diverting funds from where they should go which is onto programs that can show good outcomes in prisoner rehabilitation. However law and order is a nice easy political football to kick around at election time and it keeps the general public happy seeing large fences covered in razor wire keeping the dreaded criminals at bay from raping and pillaging out in the public. Now the corporates are eyeing up the easy money running prisons and there focus will not be on keeping people out so that will make the thought of something a lot more progressive even further away. The biggest issue facing NZ when it comes to inequality issues is the lack of courage amongst those who could make some radical change. Helen Clark showed courage in identifying the issues around tertiary education but still tip toed around the prison debateAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05382079326851047281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-316883044333077452016-01-28T15:15:24.747+13:002016-01-28T15:15:24.747+13:00I'm afraid I don't agree with you Philip. ...I'm afraid I don't agree with you Philip. Maori still dominate our prison populations, those struggling in our schools and those who are unemployed. It also appears that the exploitation of foreign and migrant workers is a growing problem and there are fewer women in management positions than there were ten years ago. We are ranked 90th in the world for the number of refugees we accept per head of population. We can't rely on our past reputation (which was still patchy) when we are behind many other OECD countries in embracing diversity in all levels of our society. If we are heading in the right direction, we are doing so very slowly. Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-9166423021660297682016-01-17T08:49:57.538+13:002016-01-17T08:49:57.538+13:00Cultural and social change takes time. It is almos...Cultural and social change takes time. It is almost a generational thing and I am not sure what can be done to speed things up. Leadership can be brave and make the law changes such as the homosexual reform bill but that just stops the authorities thinking they need to act. <br />I personally think in race relations we are ahead of many countries because we have worked alongside the Maori ever NZ started being inhabited by the Europeans. We never always got it right but we did co exist and the average Kiwi were happy to work alongside them. Our armed forces are well respected whenever they go overseas because they embrace the cultural differences and appreciate other races have different cultures. Maori are respected and represent their race at all levels right up the Chief of the Armed Forces.<br />The same cannot be said for the US or Australian forces. <br />I think the gay issue will be overcome as people get to know openly gay people and understand they are just ordinary people. That would not have happened a few years ago as most hid their sexuality. <br />It is sad to hear stories about young people hiding their true feelings because they feel they need to but I think those will be the people who go on to help breakdown the barriers for others.<br />It is easy to be part of the flow but brave people will walk against it and bring about change. <br />I doubt there is a person in NZ who thinks woman should not get to vote or not be allowed to stand for elected office. That was the biggest cultural revolution ever for NZ but other countries are still stuck back in those days where they are happy to see woman treated as second class citizens. <br />We don't get it right all the time but I think we are heading in the right directionAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05382079326851047281noreply@blogger.com