AN OPINION FROM CAMERON "WHALEOIL" SLATER: INDOLENT MAORI HATING ON HARD WORKING ASIAN KIWIS

The media and opposition parties have much to answer for and now they can see the fruits of their labour in a new survey that shows the constant negative media and political attacks against Asians is driving prejudice. That prejudice is more pronounced amongst lazy maori bludgers who think the world owes them a living and sit by idly watching as hard working asian migrants snaffle up the jobs. Maori dislike Asian immigrants more than any other group of New Zealanders, a new poll shows. Asians are blamed for taking jobs from Maori, driving Maori to Australia, lacking understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and competing for cultural funding. “The diversity of New Zealand is beginning to undermine the investment we have in biculturalism. [Maori] don’t believe new migrants are sympathetic to biculturalism and the Treaty,” said Massey University pro vice-chancellor, Professor Paul Spoonley. Surveys show Maori have an increasingly negative perception of Asians. It is caused by “competition in the labour market . . . and competition for cultural resources,” Spoonley said. Maori have a unique position in New Zealand and advancing their cultural and social needs must be put ahead of the needs of immigrants, said Maori Party leader, Te Ururoa Flavell. “[Are Maori] more important than anyone else? Possibly. I think that the most important thing is that the people of the country recognise our unique part in the fabric of this nation,” said Flavell. He is concerned immigrants are taking much needed jobs from Maori, contributing to disproportionate emigration to Australia. As the indigenous people of New Zealand, the government should put the needs of Maori ahead of new migrants he said. According to an Asia NZ Foundation survey, Maori views on Asian immigration have deteriorated in the past year. While most New Zealanders increasingly saw the benefit of Asian immigrants, 44 per cent of Maori believed New Zealanders were more negative towards people from Asia compared with a year ago. That is well above the 27 per cent of all New Zealanders who are less positive towards Asians than last year. A majority of Maori also believed New Zealand was allowing too much investment from Asia. As one of my commenters observes: The problem seems to be that Maori remain firmly planted at the bottom of the heap and until Maori makes the effort to utilise all of the additional resource sent their way eg cash, social welfare, health, education to move themselves up the ladder then resentment is going to remain against any immigrant group that arrives and takes advantage of the conditions that exist in NZ to advance themselves and their families. The Asians don’t have it on their own, there is resentment against the Polynesians for their perceived success and to pakeha the deepest resentment of all. Of course this isn’t aided by tired old protestors like Ranginui Walker claiming NZ is “bi-cultural”. [T]he growing influence of new cultures in New Zealand will only be surface deep compared with the history and influence of Maori, said Maori leader, Ranginui Walker, who supports Asian immigration. Maori had to fight for many years to rescue their language and culture and now immigration is being used by those who want to undermine Maori’s presence in New Zealand. “Biculturalism is the basic dynamic of New Zealand because the tangata whenua is the base culture. Those people that oppose that ideology try to diffuse it by talking multiculturalism. Their experience of multiculturalism is ethnic food,” Walker said. How trite and arrogant of Walker. Another commenter notes: Ok seeing One News has brought up the topic of racism – specifically Asian versus Maori – let’s see. How many Maori do you see working Saturday and Sunday painting houses or building houses? How many Maori do you see driving taxis at all hours of the day and night? How many Maori do you see working in supermarkets? How many Maori do you see working in the corner Dairy? How many Maori do you see working in petrol stations? How many Maori do you see start their own business from the “sniff of an oily rag”, with no helping hand and with risk? There are other jobs that Asians do that no one else wants to do that can be added to the list. Maori can also work in these jobs if they want to. Are the worst racists in NZ actually (some) Maori headed by Winston Peters? “Maori dislike Asian immigrants more than any other group of New Zealanders, a new poll shows. Asians are blamed for taking jobs from Maori, driving Maori to Australia, lacking understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and competing for cultural funding.” The media and politicians have much to answer for in fueling this racism. But Judith Collins provides wise words to those under attack: Collins gave the opening address at the EthnicA 2014 conference in Auckland’s Mt Wellington yesterday. “Do not let others define who you are. Do it yourself,” she said. She concluded her speech with a sentiment that could have applied to her own recent struggles: “It’s election year,” she said. “All sorts of things are going to be said. Some of them are going to be really hurtful. These things will pass.” LINK: http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/05/indolent-maori-hating-hard-working-asian-kiwis/