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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

English insults Maori

The murmer of disapproval/ rumble of discontent that ran across the paepae at yesterday's powhiri at Te Rau Aroha, in response to Bill English's disparaging remarks about 'Northern Maoris', was a jarring note in an otherwise enjoyable Waitangi Day celebration.
Perhaps he believed that running down the northern tribes would curry him favour in the South, but saying, "If the northern tribes could run a marae properly, New Zealand might have a more positive view of the Treaty.", served only to reveal him as gauche. Certainly he flushed at the reaction from the tangata whenua, themselves a mixture of North and South Island Maori, seated across the marae atea. I wondered in any case, why he was bleating on about 'the protesters' and his disdain for them. It hardly seemed an appropriate topic for discussion on a marae where he was being so cordially treated. Some carefully crafted praise for the Awarua Runaka wouldn't have gone amiss, as they'd put on a fantastic day. Their hakari at noon for starters, was legendary; crayfish, oysters, paua, blue cod, titi... they provided everything the southern oceans have to offer, and there was plenty of it!
Mind you, at least Bill had the manners to have a cup of tea and a biscuit following the powhiri as kawa dictates. His rude boss Key didn't even bother to show that consideration at Waitangi, according to a story in today's rag. Stomp, stomp, Mr Key. People don't like that sort of behaviour, especially people who regard manakitanga so highly.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps you might hav a different view following the Govenor generals comments regarding protocol on the lower marae?

Paranormal

robertguyton said...

Te Tii marae is not in the south of the South island, nor is it a Ngai Tahu/Kati Mamoe/Waitaha marae. Maori, and marae, aren't homogeneous, paranormal.

Marty Mars said...

Thanks rob - this should go on open mike at The Standard mate. I have written a post about it based on your post.

http://mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/all-are-insulted-by-dipton-dipstick.html

robertguyton said...

Marty - hard hitting title and pointed too :-)

Anonymous said...

The Dpton dipstick was referring to the huge breach of protocol the GG also commented on.

Paranormal

robertguyton said...

He was, paranormal, but there're times and places to be 'correct' and when you are guest on a marae, criticising whanauka isn't the cleverest thing to do.

Marty Mars said...

yes paranormal indeed, moaning about a breach of protocol by breaching protocol - that's called a fail.

Farmer Baby Boomer said...

"Waitangi Day at Waitangi has become
the shame of ngapuhi. it's a woeful piece of violent thuggish theatre."

Just one of the thoughts of Brunette at roarprawn.

for those interested here is the link.
http://roarprawn.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/not-dead.html

robertguyton said...

Farmer Baby Boomer - and yet she's quite wrong. The ceremonies at Waitangi were overwhelmingly peaceful, bar the brief episodes that weren't and those served a purpose in drawing attention to the fact that all is not well between Maori and the Government.
Raw prawn, btw, would have quickly been scooped up and served at the hakari, going by what I saw on the tables at Te Rau Aroha.

Farmer Baby Boomer said...

"The ceremonies at Waitangi were overwhelmingly peaceful..." Of course, RG, you are right in that. And that is to the credit of Ngapunhi. As was the security, including the crucial participation,in that, of the Maori Wardens . But the point,I think, that Brunette is making with her "thuggish theatre" comment is the positive was over overshadowed by the negative.The "brief episodes" as you call them may publicise the political rift between Maori and Govt. But they also raise the question. How far would those involved have gone had they not been restrained? They appeared determined and what they were carrying had a lot more potential for harm than the mud that Don Brash was assaulted with on a previous Waitangi Day. And that, indeed, would have been a shame.

robertguyton said...

I suspect, FBB, from my experience in reading body language, that if the protesters had got through the somewhat symbolic defence from the Maori Wardens, their own symbolic attack would have only gone as far as shouting in Mr Key's smirking face. In my opinion of course. The 'negative' in-your-face actions only overshadowed the 'positive' ceremonial ones, because the television people chose to use those clips. Who's more to blame - Key, for fanninmg the flames of discontent with his Section 9 and Te Puni Kokiri announcements just prior to Waitangi Day, the noisy ones on the marae for 'not being polite', or the media who need conflict in order to attract their audience?

Farmer Baby Boomer said...

RG,the point you make about the media is a fair one. On the rest we may have to aggree to disaggree and move to the next issue which seems to be ........lignite!!!!

robertguyton said...

Lignite indeed.
In fact, it's a lignitemare!
(More to come).

Ruahines said...

Kia ora Robert,
I was at Waitangi, and privileged to be able to stay at the Kawiti marae - which was the only place that would take in those involved in the early protest movements at Waitangi after bastion Point. We were treated there to awesome korero around the the history of Te Tiriti from such lumanaries as Moana Jackson, and Mereama Pitman amongst others. We were also fortunate enough to talk with people from Te Tii and see and feel the real anguish of those who feel hurt at the way guests at the marae are treated at times in regards to protocol, but also divided over the lies and treachery around Te Tiriti itself, thus making protest very necessary.
I was there at Key's arrival and leaving, and at the flagpole the next day. Both times with my 9 year old son. The media beat up on both counts is shameful. All I can write, in light of seeing the idiot article written today by Paul Holmes - whom I certainly never saw at Waitangi, is perhaps more people actually ought to go to Waitangi instead of basing comments and observations on shameful media beat ups. Some how, judging by the smiles on Key's face, and the face of English as they exited the marae a few mere feet away from where I stood with my son, was that they were headed back to a fancy hotel for a couple of scotches, knowing they had really accomplished just what they had come there for.
Cheers,
Robb