![Barry, James, fl 1818-1846. Barry, James :[The Rev Thomas Kendall and the Maori chiefs Hongi and Waikato] 1820. Ref: G-618. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23241174](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_B_i!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb00694a4-189a-44cf-b47c-ba816b6e815c_664x516.jpeg "Barry, James, fl 1818-1846. Barry, James :[The Rev Thomas Kendall and the Maori chiefs Hongi and Waikato] 1820. Ref: G-618. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23241174")
It is striking how often the loudest voices in New Zealand’s race debate come from those who have the faintest connection to being Māori. The same individuals who enjoy cushy jobs and generous salaries often exploit a sliver of Māori ancestry to advance themselves, however they spend their days decrying colonisation as if it were the worst thing ever to…