Willie Jackson and Paula Bennett: Who is Maori?

pn372

I first published about race, ethnicity, Maori and Maori-Pakeha relations in 1970* when Willie Jackson was nine years old and Paula Bennett a toddler.  I noted then 49 years ago that 'race' was biological, 'ethnicity' a combination of race and culture or acquired learning, Maori were people who saw themselves as Maori, and Maori-Pakeha relations were far worse than most New Zealanders knew or cared. 


This is what Constance CC had to say in a letter to Wellington's Evening Post on 9 July 1968:

Sir,
All this nonsense about racialism, or as some would have us believe, 'racial discrimination', must be halted before it can become harmful. Some people are born to rule, others to serve. God has chosen to point out our various tasks in life by the colour with which He has painted our skins. Thus there is no cause to riot or act in an unseemly manner. 

So, Willie, these words of advice from an old man who knew your uncle Syd. 

I find your comments offensive. It is one thing to accuse opposition MPs of not doing enough for Maori, and quite another to question their identity.  

Before you came to parliament you had the well deserved reputation for supporting and advising Maori candidates and MPs of all parties  —Tariana Turia, Pita Sharples, Rangi McLean, Claudette Hauiti, Winston Peters and Hone Harawira.  That was the Willie to be respected.

Commentators on your outburst against Paula in Parliament have seen this as a sign of weakness in the Labour Coalition. They say Jacinda gives way to NZFirst and the Maori caucus of which you are co-chairperson.  Your remarks did not help Labour.

Paula took your remarks to be racist. 

You said she "twisted" your remarks, you were talking about her "non-support" for kaupapa Maori, and never said she was not Maori. You apologized if "anyone" took offence from the remarks.  

Paula took offence. Why did you not apologize to her?

Sure, you "clarified" things and backtracked a little on RNZ:

"Of course she's Māori, I've never said that she's not Māori. I said in Question Time yesterday that she whakapapa's Māori, how you identify with being Māori is by your whakapapa - is Paula Māori? One hundred percent.

But you still haven't  apologized to Paula and the other National Maori MPs you slandered.  It's okay that you think some National MPs are "useless" but it's not okay that you said,

Paula Bennett - well, she doesn't know if she's Maori. Some days she does and some days she doesn't ...  Dan Bidois - he needs to go back to Italy.

You cannot wriggle out of what you said so easily. Like it or not Willie, you were questioning the identity of two people who consider themselves Maori.  

This is what Pakeha were once accused of. They decided who was Maori, and who was not, based on their appearance and how well they "fitted in" with Pakeha society. 

And Whanau Ora Minister Peeni Henare's comment that  he hadn't "seen  (Paula)  on the marae ...dry dishes ....do a karanga" was no better.

Of course he hadn't. She is one of many urban Maori who are not as fully connected to their Maori heritage as some would wish. 

But whether they consider themselves Maori is up to them, not Peeni or Willie whose backgrounds made for easier Maori cultural connections. 

Paula is right in saying, 

I think to define (urban Maori) as being lesser or different is almost perpetuating that they feel like they're not worthy ... So I understand where he's coming from (but) I don't agree and I think it's a dangerous path to walk.

This old man thinks Willie and Peeni should apologize to Paula and the other MPs they insulted. He thinks they should attack their policies and actions but not their identity for that would be — and is — racist!   

-- ACW

Disclaimer: I have close Maori  blood relatives. 

Related
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/388428/prime-minister-reins-in-mps-over-attacks-on-paula-bennett-s-maori-heritage

https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/politics/nationals-paula-bennett-and-labours-willie-jackson-in-racism-row/
https://yournz.org/2019/05/04/ardern-reins-in-half-arsed-apology-but-willie-jackson-hits-back/

Defining  Maori for Public Policy. Ministry of Social Development 

The Problem of Defining an Ethnic Group for Public Policy: Who is Māori and Why Does it Matter?

https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/journals-and-magazines/social-policy-journal/spj23/23problem-of-defining-an-ethnic-group-for-public-policy-who-is-maori-and-why-does-it-matter-p86-108.html


* A C Walsh, Jan. 1970. Essays on Maori-Pakeha Relations, Wellington Teachers College.

1. Some to serve, others to rule
2. Some are not more equal than others
3.Race and culture prejudice
4. The Maori and the school system
5. Maoritanga
6. Kiwitanga?