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Mike Houlding's avatar

That is truly wonderful news. Made my day!

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Just Boris's avatar

I’d like to be as positive as you. I’m really waiting for a pan-Maori embrace of modern society & the benefits of our western democracy. Until they are smart enough to do this, I fear ‘Maori’ will continue to fail everywhere. And their victimhood anger & the flaw of collective responsibility will keep flowing into more baby bashing. Sadly.

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Christine de Lee's avatar

So good to hear. Let's hope that this is the first in a number of positive steps that start the end of the slaughter. And good on you, Matua, for being one of the voices that has brought about this change.

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Michele Bishop's avatar

I was so pleased to read this. Sincerely hope that other elders take note and do similar as well as educate their members to "do the right thing" by the children. It all has to come from the elders. Remember the phrase by maori, for maori? No amount of money being thrown at this will assist. It has to come from inside the tribes.

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Aroha's avatar

Apart from acknowledging that there is a problem I'm not sure what iwi can do without widespread, nationwide coordination. The whole issue of familial violence culminating in death is very complex with many contributing factors, but I'm going to stick my neck out here and fully expect to be shat on from a great height: over the years a large proportion of deaths from abuses have been perpetrated by the mother's partner, not the father of the child. A lot has been written about the psychology of male dominance that is causal here, and so long as whanau choose not to call it out, for whatever the reasons, nothing will change. This is not new. It's been going on in many cultures for millennia but surely the mark of a civilised society is that it is named and stopped.

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Louise's avatar

Marching is all very easy. Who are they protesting? The colonists for causing it? The police for not stopping it? Or the violence in their own communities rhat they dont call out?

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Guthrie's avatar

Wonderful news and a fantastic effort. Thanks Matua for keeping eyes on this, and it shows that single voices can add to making a difference 🙂

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Astra Lucia Verum Omni's avatar

Well done Matua, thanks for speaking out, you are amazing in what you write and research! Your banner is brilliant and may be what finally caused some action!

However, what will be achieved by more hikois, haka, singing and cultural rituals? Nothing it seems...

It's issues in the homes, the children with no loving or responsible fathers and often too young mothers. The Mana obsession, the aggressive demeanour, the gangs, the drugs and the alcohol and the amount of people living on benefits with no discipline or structure in their lives. Not to mention the racism and obsession with living in the past and victim attitudes.

Victim attitude doesn't go well with Mana and being staunch and 'manly", so it's bound to clash and is bound to result in unresolved anger issues.

Iwi are sitting on $100+ billion and what are they doing with it? The Maori economy is booming but where are the results to be seen, where are the thriving families and happy, well educated and loved children that should be a result of it? Will any of this change with yet another march, singing and rituals?

We are at a turning point here it seems with the political attacks on families and family values. Maori are pawns in that attack and being shamelessly used. It’s truly tragic!

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