Colour Blind: Interviews with non Maori youth

Following the cartoon featured in Friday's lecture (see below) which dealt with the issue of White advantage and Black disadvantage due to slavery in the United States of America, I was personally intrigued and compelled to investigate as to whether this is a common concept within New Zealand society in regards to the treatment of Maori in comparison to non Maori. It is generally conceded by the media and non Maori (though often begrudgingly) that Maori were mistreated, oppressed and colonised against their will by immigrants from Britain. However, for many non Maori, this is simply a history which they feel is exactly that- history!

As a society seeking equality, it is the role of every citizen to accept that rectifying these wrongs must be done. However, it is perpetuated in the media constantly that Maori should be able to fix their own situation without any disruption to the advantages previously afforded to non Maori. Therefore, what is often neglected, especially in consideration of policies and the media coverage these get, is what this cartoon demonstrates so well; the oppression of Maori in the process of colonisation had further ramifications, it also allowed the non Maori population to be afforded advantages only possible to them by the disadvantages of Maori.

Over the weekend, I spoke with a group of 10 young adults between the ages of 18-21 years old. The topic was brought up in conversation which allowed them to speak freely and openly about their feelings on the topic. None of the group were Maori, there were participants whose parents were immigrants from both India, Japan and Europe though all were born in New Zealand and identified as 'Kiwi'.

"We bought them education, language, religion and medicine as well as anything else they could ever want! What more could they want from us?" (20 year old male, working as a builder)

"Sure, some people traded or took a few things from them but now they are doing the same in return... they are robbing me of my opportunities! It's not only hypocritical but racist!" (19 year old male, student of Law and Commerce)

This demonstrates both an undoubtedly Eurocentric view that colonisation was a process which benefited Maori and an attitude reflecting a want to forget history and ignore any ramifications which have carried through to contemporary society.

One female student, recently turned 18, professed that by giving Maori heightened opportunities was not helping them but instead making them "even lazier" by giving them "everything on a platter... they don't have to work for a thing." She continued to argue, despite being presented with facts on the disadvantages many Maori face, that "hand outs" would only cause further resentment and the only way to achieve equality was to begin treating everyone as equals. Furthermore, as her parents relocated from India to New Zealand, she felt she should not be in anyway disadvantaged as she was wholly disconnected from the New Zealand's past despite recognising herself as a 'Kiwi'.

The above quotes are undoubtedly shocking, especially as they all come from the age group of 18-21 year olds, all educated in New Zealand about the history and are a segment of the up and coming generation. When confronted with these personal ideologies, I was primarily concerned that it is also a common belief that racism no longer exists within our society. Even more concerning is the concept that these young adults believe they are the ones being disadvantaged and refuse to acknowledge that they have felt any advantages following the oppression of Maori in this country.

In order to justify their beliefs many referenced the concept that we are all biologically the same; the concept of race as a social construction. This argument is convincingly put forward by Omi and Winant but those questioned failed to understand what these theorists highlight as so important:

Race may be a social construction but it is not without meaning or severe ramifications for those disadvantaged or typified by their 'race'.

Unfortunately, the media plays a strong role in the perpetuation and strength of these young adults 'arguments'. When citing examples the news (especially politics and crime), films and television shows such as Police 10/7 were often referred to as well as a suprising disgust at Maori channels or the language ever featured on television. There was no comprehension that the institution of the media does not fairly represent Maori or any group accurately. Similarly, as students, many mentioned the 'advantages' afforded to Maori at University such as spots given to those of Maori descendants in Law and Medicine.

From this investigation into the advantages and disadvantages of colonisation in New Zealand it is concerning to see the resentment and lack of understand which is building among youth who are supposedly educated on such situations. When the cartoon was displayed in class, the room was filled with laughter at the ridiculousness of the white man's treatment of the black man.

However, this laughable concept is perhaps not so ridiculous when one considers the prevalence of the 'reverse racism' concept in New Zealand society.

NZ Media as a racist institution

After today’s lecture I attended an anthropology tutorial where we were also talking about racism in NZ. Some of my classmates believed that there was no longer racism in NZ today or that we can pride ourselves as being “less racist than other countries such as Australia.”

Growing up as a pakeha in NZ society and going to schools with a diverse range of ethnicities, I also used to think that New Zealand society was not racist. I wasn't exposed to extremely racist people or racist inequality. However I now know that it is the institutions and structures that create racist and unequal outcomes even if the people in the institutions aren't intending this.

If we look at the New Zealand media we can see it as an institute of racism: It treats certain racial groups differently than others due to their procedures, particularly in the fact that the news media are always looking for a story to sell to the dominant viewers. The fact that our mainstream TV News programmes are pakeha-based means that they are aiming to attract a white audience. The only way for New Zealanders to gain a Maori perspective on news is through Maori TV which is mostly spoken in Maori, tending to make people less likely to view it.

I watched this Wednesday’s news on both channel One and also on Maori TV. Maori TVs headline stories were on the law passed that gives Maori wardens the privileges to stop hosts at bars serving intoxicated Maori and another on the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision to hear the Te Kohanga Reo Trust Board’s application for recognition of the Crowns failure to recognise Te Kohunga (the youth programme of total immersion into Māori language and culture). After this the issue of the London Riots were covered with the perspective of Maori living in London.

In comparison to this, One New’s main story was an intensive cover on the London Riots followed by the issue on the Federal Reserve and US economics. One News did not cover any of these Maori issues and even finished their main features with a tacky American coverage of a “story” about the food pregnant women eat ends up being food their babies will like! What I found interesting in this news coverage was the fact that mainstream media obviously does not think that these Maori issues would be well received because they are only specific to Maori. They would prefer to show overseas problems and uplifting, rather ridiculous, stories on babies’ eating habits than any issue specific to Maori!

So why shouldn't Maori (that don’t regularly watch Maori TV) or other New Zealanders be exposed to these kinds of issues which are relevant and close to home? Why are stories such as the ones shown in Maori TV not important to the mainstream media industry? I believe it is because the dominant mainstream media are responsible of institutional racism and this coverage helps to maintain the institutional racism in NZ. This under-representation means that when Maori issues are shown they are generally radical or negative. Dominant news broadcasts clearly prioritise white issues over Maori ones, which in turn leads to New Zealanders being unaware and more importantly uninterested in Maori problems.

One News: http://tvnz.co.nz/one-news/update-b-video-3343716

Maori TV: http://www.maoritelevision.com/default.aspx?tabid=278&pid=151