Race relations ‘most important issue’

Press, 26 November 1981, Page 11

Race relations ‘most important issue’

PA Hamilton Race relations is the most important issue facing New Zealand, the Race Relations Conciliator, Mr Hiwi Tauroa, has told the Hamilton Lions Club. A 20-minute address was insufficient to adequately deal with the subject, he said. He was phasing out such talks and challenging clubs throughout New Zealand to organise two-hour seminars betore he would agree to make return visits. Mr Tauroa said cultures such as Jewish, Scots, Welsh, and Maori had taken thousands of years to develop ana people would not learn ‘‘one single, solid thing” in 20 minutes.

Of the three main differences between the races — language, colour, and cultural values - the last was easily the most important, he said. “I am not saying to people thay must learn another language, although that would not be a bad thing: 1 am not saying we must be the same colour because that would be ridiculous; but I am saying there are different values and we should understand the values of other cultures.” Mr Tauroa said that in spue of the “oodles of different ' races” in New Zealand, this was a monocultural country with English systems dominating all institutions.