Separate cultures ludicrous’ for N.Z.

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 7

Separate cultures ludicrous’ for N.Z.

i New Zealanders. both Maori and pakeha, are now ; in unity as a nation, moving • together to retain the Maori I language and customs — I “the things that make us a distinctive people” — according to Mrs Elizabeth Murchie at the opening of a women’s 1 seminar Mrs Murchie, who is Dominion president of the Maori Women’s Welfare League, was speaking on self-esteem at the meeting ' held by the regional women’s decade committee. Very few Maoris wanted separatism, and it would be ludicrous to contemplate • New Zealand being divided 'into a “Maori-stan” and a “pakeha-stan,” she said. “But we (the Maori people) have a right to recognition of our past[ our values, and our identity in an evolving I New Zealand community.” I She was proud, she said,! j that an ever-increasing band of articulate young Maoris was emerging. "It is pleasing to my selfesteem that more young pakehas are coming into contact with the Maori; it is good to observe the acceptance of, and the participation in, Maori culture by a more enlightened younger generation of pakeha who sees the Maori not as a curio nor as an inferior, but

[as a fellow with equal rights • and somewhat similar aspira- [ tiohs,” she said. Almost all Maoris had •some pakeha relatives. As intermarriage continued it would not be many generations before few pakehas would not have a Maori connection. “It is gratifying to me to know that my race will continue to flourish in the new breed of New Zealander of the twenty-first century.” Mrs Murchie expressed disquite that too many young Maoris, freed from the controls of the tribal homeland,

were inadequately equipped for the modern technological: society and fell prey to soul-' destroying elements which' plagued all youth. “These are liquor and alcoholism: drugs and mindbending zombiism; sloth and egotism, and a failure to give service to others: the easy way of life which could oniv lead to a lack of self-esteem,” she said. The home was the kernel' of society, she said and during a woman’s child-rearing years careers and other pursuits had to rake second place. But before and after full-time family responsibili-1 ties women had to participate equally and fully at til! levels of decision-making, particularly' in politics. “The farce of the Contra-1 ception, Sterilisation, and i Abortion Act so well illus- i ! trates this fact. So why do I ;we not combine to promote : I more women in politics'?” | Life was much richer for I most women than it bad been i for their mothers and grandmothers, but much remained to be done to enhance selfesteem. "New Zealand still needs its Kate Sheppards, its I Minnie Routs, and its Prin- . cess Te Pueas to give women [ and all New Zealanders the ' dignity which is our right,” ‘she said.