Forum hears of Maori issues

Press, 1 December 1987, Page 8

Forum hears of Maori issues

The Maori people needed the time and space to manage their own affairs and resources, the head of the department of ' Maori at the Christchurch Teachers’ College, Mr Keri Johami, told a Young Nationals forum in Christchurch last evening. Mr Johami and the National member of Parliament for. Hobson, Mr Ross Meurant, were the guest speakers at the public forum on “The Maori — fighting for justice — or power?" at the University of Canterbury. “It is time to redefine our history. There is no point looking at the nostalgic past which has us thinking about the Pacific explorations of the early Maori or the Maori people’s social structures. We must break out of that cycle. Equity must ’ be based on identity. Assimilation is like the shark and the goldfish,” Mr Johami said. “The Maori people are how' saying that they can look after their resources in their own ways. We are

asking for the authority and the accountability.” Language and land remained crucial questions. Language was an aspect of social justice — one 'Which should be available to Maori and pakeha children. “Maori society is so diverse and pluralistic that a definition of Maori is useless. But *Maori issues continue to be based on language, land, and self-determination,” he said. Mr Johami disagreed with the assertion that private enterprise was incompatible with Maori culture and society. Within a few years of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Maori people had displayed entrepreneurial skills in a number of areas, he said. Their economic base — the land — had been removed, however, with the establishment of the Maori Land Court. The Maori people in 1987- had "to be given the opportunity to display their entrepreneurial skills. are looking at

Maori management of resources within a bi-cul-tural system. I support the belief that we are all New Zealanders but we must also remember that for 100 years, money has been spent negatively to promote dependency. “For too long you have talked past me and seen past me,” Mr Johami said. Mr Meurant told the forum that race relations had deteriorated to the point where comparisons could be drawn between parts Of Britain and the position in New Zealand. He blamed the news media for ignoring sections of his recent maiden speech in Parliament. “My views are not as extreme as the media would like to believe. I am not sorry that I raised these issues. I am sure that they will be vindicated in the coming years. A country which does not have the capacity to admit that its race relations are deteriorating does not have the capacity to solve these problems.” Race relations were harmed by individuals

holding extreme views, but Mr Meurant denied that he had made the case that this would involve the overthrow of Government in New Zealand. “Those who aspire to that will never succeed,” he added. But questions of Maori claims to fisheries and continuing land claims would increase unease and concern among many New Zealanders. “The Maori people lack the cultural strength they once had. There is a need for a Maori renaissance but this cannot be funded by the taxpayer. Many Maoris want to stand on their own feet — and they should be encouraged to do so. “The wherewithal must come from within.” He rejected the concept of separate Maori Parliamentary seats as a form of separatism. “We should abolish the paternalistic crutches offered as a sop to prop up Maoris. Maoris should be treated exactly the same as every other New Zealander.”