Pakehas may react to Govt efforts

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 30

Pakehas may react to Govt efforts

PA Wanganui Some pakeha people thought that the Government was falling over backwards to help Maori people, said Wanganui member of Parliament, Mr Russell Marshall. “As in 1975, there is a potential resentment by some pakehas,” ’he said.

Mr Marshall was commenting on public statements about a pakeha backlash stemming from the Maori loan controversy and the high rate of Maori offending.

He said he did not share the view that the Government was doing more than was justified. Mr Marshall said that he was aware of feeling on the issue in the Wanganui electorate as well as in his role as' Minister of Education.

“You can’t ignore the realities,” he said. "On any social indicator Maoris generally are worse off than pakehas. Any Government with any conscience has got to try to do something about .that.

“There are 140-odd years of ground to make up. “Learning Maori won’t necessarily get you a job overseas. But there are other reasons for learning Maori, particularly as far as Maori children are Concerned. “It is important for people to have pride in their own culture.” Although there was no great push for - pakeha people to learn' Maori it was important that they were familiar with Maori names, pronunciation, and history, he said.