Why do Pakeha fear Maori representation? Maori Wards, Racism, and Hoskings / A.J. Hendry

69% to 30%.

The result of the Palmerston North vote against Maori Wards last week.

If you were paying attention to local media last week you may have noticed that a vote was taking place in the regions for greater representation of Maori on local councils.

There was an attempt to make this happen by instigating Maori Wards which would ensure that – in the spirit of our Treaty – both Maori and Pakeha ways of governance would sit side by side. This was an attempt to bring to local council some measure of equality, a move that would ensure that Maori voices would be represented.

However, due to an outdated and racist law which allows the creation of Maori Wards to be challenged – a law which should be noted does not apply to the creation of any other council Wards - a referendum was held in opposition to their creation, and they were subsequently rejected by the people.

Once again proving how far we as a nation still have to go before we will be ready to respect and honour our treaty obligations.

Of course, what wasn’t surprising about this whole thing was how Hosking appeared right on que to cry foal and bleat about “the injustice of special treatment for Maori. “

What was more surprising was my reaction to his words.

As I listened to him and prepared to condemn his words I was forced to face my own past prejudice.

There had been a time when I had shared the same sentiments, when I too had sincerely believed that any form of specific Maori representation was racist.

I used to make these sorts of well meaning statements thinking I was standing up for justice and advocating for Maori. But, my intention didn’t make my ignorance any less racist. Nor did it prevent my words from doing any less damage.

It was only when I paused one day, when I took the time to listen to one of my Maori brothers that I finally began to understand.

You see what Hosking, myself and others have ignored is that Maori representation is not a “special privilege” to be granted or denied Maori by Pakeha, but a right that has long been denied by the Crown in blatant breach of our treaty obligations.

The intention of the Treaty was to bring Te Ao Maori and the Pakeha worldviews to the table as equals.

It was to be a partnership between two peoples.

Yet, sadly our Pakeha ancestors chose not to honor this commitment. And instead of joining Maori at the table as their equals, we built our own table, forcing Maori to sit on the floor where we fed them what scraps we had left to give.

Today, instead of rejecting and amending this injustice we are choosing to allow it to continue.

And I am left with the question.

Why are we so afraid of representation?

What do we lose from allowing the voices of our Maori whanau to be heard?

Perhaps we fear change? Perhaps we fear the reality that to allow another to take their rightful place at the table, means that we may have to build a new table that will accommodate everyone.

But to dismiss Maori representation as “racist” or “privileged” is to ignore the commitments we made to Maori when we signed the treaty and were welcomed into this whenua.

Maori gave us a home.

And in thanks, we have stolen theirs.

My friends, we lose nothing when we restore Maori’s voice to the table, however I would suggest we gain everything.

As a nation we are facing significant challenges within our communities. Our suicide rates are souring, our child abuse statistics lead the world, many of our whanau are trapped in cycles of poverty, addiction and abuse. Not to mention the current housing crisis and homelessness epidemic.

We – Pakeha - have tried to do things our way.

Acting out of our limited knowledge and understanding, we have attempted to solve the problems that we created through our colonization of this land, with our own methods.

It is the height of Pakeha arrogance to continue down this road.

If we are serious about addressing the growing inequality in our communities and in our nation, then we must also be serious about honouring the Treaty.

Until we do this, until Maori are given the respect they deserve, until Pakeha can lay down their fear and do the right thing, we cannot move forward as one unified nation.

As the Maori party have often quoted, “What is good for maori, is good for us all.”