Hard News: What did you do yesterday?
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The nearest parallel is possibly Canada, where they’ve handled both aboriginal peoples and the French.
Canada? You're kidding, right?
Canada may have a way of disapproving of people using racist epithets who claim to be "just joking" - which is something I suppose, but it
is not a very good example of a place that has handled relations with First Nations peoples very well. Canada is all sweet and friendly on the surface but you do not have to look very closely to find a very racist country with an ugly and mostly hidden history.Canada is one of only 4 nations that refuses to recognise the rights of Aboriginal people. New Zealand, Australia and the USA are the other 3.
There is a huge and now worldwide protest movement started by four First Nations women in Canada as a response to an bill (C-45) which will leave almost all natural resources unprotected from industry and strip First Nations people of the very last vestiges of their property. The protest movement is spearheaded by women, children and frail elders, which makes it hard to send in the tear gas and water cannons. One of the most compelling leaders is an 11 year old girl,
Forget "blame Canada" - it's time to "shame Canada".
Idle No More
Buffy Sainte-Marie at the Manitoba Legislature
Idle No More - Peace Arch (border between Canada & USA)
Fractured Land
Solidarité avec Idle No More
First Nations activist Ta'Kaiya Blaney
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I spent the day working (discussions about how to beat the HIV epidemic...), but did reflect on the fact that it was Waitangi Day just before falling asleep (Honey, it was Waitangi Day today, well you know, up until 12 hours ago | Oh, yeah, happy Waitangi Day | Cheers, to you too, nigh night).
Living in South Africa certainly provides a different perspective on race and ethnicity - felt very disturbed to be told during the day that there was an Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging enclave on the outskirts of the town where we live in KwaZulu Natal. I have yet to verify this for myself, but suffice to say there is still some very crazy politics going down here. Which doesn't diminish at all the challenges of ethnicity and politics in Aotearoa NZ, but the conversation is certainly a different one.
The last Waitangi Day I had out of the country I was in Moscow, in 2006. That year we went to the NZ Embassy for canapes and music by Moana Maniapoto - if ever you have chance it's nice to see inside our territory in foreign lands. I seem to remember someone from the Russian foreign ministry (if not the foreign minister), saying something along the lines of Obama and Kerry's message. I didn't take the opportunity then to pipe up and say it was a bit soon for congrats, but it's exactly what I thought.
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Went to Mt Zion – the story was utterly predictable, the script structurally a bit messy largely redeemed by an utterly charming cast, and the first time in over twenty years I’ve heard an annoying person called a “doongy”.
Extra points: At 93 minutes it doesn’t outstay its welcome.
Otherwise, spent four hours staring at a blank page and wanting to put my head through a wall.
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I walked 40 kms around the Wellington hills (mostly on tracks but some streets also) with some friends who are training for the Oxfam 100 km walk in April. A rewarding day with the clouds progressively retreating. The tracks weren't particularly busy but Wilton Bush was a popular picnic destination. We had a really pleasant walk with a mixture of good conversation and quiet, reflective time. It's a great city to walk in...
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Sacha, in reply to
Canada is one of only 4 nations that refuses to recognise the rights of Aboriginal people. New Zealand, Australia and the USA are the other 3
NZ has signed up to the UN Declaration now - though it took a change of govt.
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DexterX, in reply to
Shamefull indeed.
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Waitangi day began with the sound of a motor mower. Anna, our very un-Swiss, Swiss host could be seen manically steering her way through what was probably the easiest part of her day. The motor camp where we were staying has a life of its own. Repeated visits have given me a sense of just how much work needs to be done and what a good old soul Anna is. A peek out of the door saw weeding, cleaning and laundering all in progress on a public holiday within what would be regarded as a somewhat culturally aware establishment. For my own part, the day really began packing the wagon ready to return to Auckland. Notable was a Southerly that felt quite cold in the shade. The car loaded, Mum and Mr. 4.5 (aka hero of the week*) stayed on for a bit more trampoline and slide. I on the other hand, clipped into my very familiar pedals and set off on a 120km plus ride to Clevedon.
Long rides regardless of the effort involved, give me plenty of time to think and reflect. My usual behaviour on Waitangi has been to stay inside, say nothing and do nothing; a gesture stimulated by the belief that the best I could manage was to be annoying and ill equipped to comment on a day that still leaves me perplexed and challenged. This day was a little different. The Southerly pushed me a long at a rate that would flatter any rider, and felt to me, like a just reward for the sometimes challenging toil of previous days. It being Waitangi, my thoughts dwelt on the possibility that my darling isn’t Ngāi Tahu but Ngāti Rangitān; a revelation with which she is not altogether comfortable despite professing to no real sense of Maori in her own life. As the sun countered the cool breeze I got to revel in a show stopping moment this year, where I encouraged a student to interpret and analyse data from within a cultural rather than common educational framework. The resulting presentation saw a deeply challenged audience gape rather than gasp, and then think really, really hard about what they had heard as well as believed. I doubt that there are many finer moments to be enjoyed by an educator. New Zealand culture can take full credit for that. Later I skidded to a halt when confronted by a kiddie wagon reversed into the road just as I rounded the corner into Kawakawa. I reminded the driver that I had children too. In turn I was treated to a Brown finger offered from the passenger window as though to settle any issues of dissonance. I guess that is New Zealand culture too.
As I hit the hills I dealt with varied instances of driving informed by Auckland importance and entitlement. I also got to look at countryside unique in its heritage and context; the rounded grass rendered bumps are nothing like my old home. Entering Clevedon I caught up with my family and bought Ice Cream. I didn’t realise at the time how much peace I have made with the treaty, which has changed and informed me. Indeed a quick check on some of my early comments in PAS will show that on other days I might well have filled at least half of Russ’s bingo card. As a relatively new immigrant I’m good with that. As I was with a drive home, and a celebration facilitated by grilled salmon, mashed kumara and Tuscan salad (FTW!). Not bad eh! Not a bad day before yesterday, I guess cogratulations do miss the point.
*Mr. 4.5 is totally my hero after climbing a 952m Mountain and then sitting on the doorstep ready to do it again the following day. I think he would have done it too. #prouddadgrin
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Stephen Judd, in reply to
Cheers for the suggestions Dave. I'm in Christchurch now, where Cycle Traders and Around Again Cycles seem to have a good stock of parts and know-how. But it's good to have another source of rare bits up my sleeve!
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Dastardly Bounder, in reply to
Turns out Dubhead had something to do with it...
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Hebe, in reply to
Beckenham Cycles at the Cashmere end of Colombo St is good too.
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Marcus Turner, in reply to
practised
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Danielle, in reply to
the teens blown away by their first big concert, their dad said it was great
I'm going to the Auckland show on Saturday and I have basically ZERO expectations. I'm just going because, you know, it's Ringo. Religious pilgrimage type thing. Maybe it will be better than I think!
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I don’t understand why this sort of bullying from this family is tolerated, and I do find it alienating.
It is bizarre isn't it. Can't 'they' all get together and tell her to bugger off and let someone else take the spotlight?
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Got up respectably late, had yum char with the SO on the North Shore (and pretty busy it was too), helped Dad with the last stage of working on deck repairs - hopefully - and then went down to Pt Chev Beach which was not far off standing room only in some places.
Also tried to avoid spending too much time completing multiple Waitangi Day Bingo cards via *that* locally infamous Twitter user...
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dyan campbell, in reply to
Shamefull indeed.
The really shameful aspect of this whole mess is the media's refusal to report the scale of the protests - although Rolling Stone has run this -
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/idle-no-more-native-led-protest-movement-takes-on-canadian-government-20130204/Native MovementThe extent to which fracking is going to harm water sources should be of concern to everyone. Canada's genodical history coming to light may have been the catalyst for this, but the Idle No More movement is the only one that will give any legal weight to challenges to planned industrial use of essential resources. And it has taken off worldwide
Idle No More - Australia -
Hebe, in reply to
I'm going to the Auckland show on Saturday and I have basically ZERO expectations. I'm just going because, you know, it's Ringo. Religious pilgrimage type thing. Maybe it will be better than I think!
They said he was excellent -- and the band was tight as. Though G was appalled by the Toto songs. John Kelcher tweeted that he'd seen his first live Beatle and that he is a 'lovely human'.
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dyan campbell, in reply to
NZ has signed up to the UN Declaration now – though it took a change of govt.
So they did Sacha, thanks for that!
http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/5846 -
ChrisW, in reply to
952m Mountain
Te Aroha
Te whakapono
Me te rangimarie
Tatou tatou eCheers 81st, kia ora, and may the journey continue, yours and young 82nd's there, Ngati Rangitane and Ngati Pakeha, with more mountains to climb.
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Hebe, Danielle - any Beatles fans - you should check out the prediction by this Beatle at the beginning of this video -
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Tim Michie, in reply to
Thank you Dyan.
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Nice video Dyan.
Waitangi day slept mainly, worked on the fucking car, got ready to move...again. Watched TV started with Seven Blunt just to stop myself from getting too uppity.
It fucking worked. dumb now. -
Volunteered at Takaparawhau (Bastion Pt) for the ZERO-waste initiative organised by Ngtai Whatua o Orakei. Had a great time, helping people figure out what resources they wanted to put into which bin (recyclable resource, organic resource, and landfill resource).
The sun was hot the wind cold (but it died out by noon) and the music gentle. The crowd was lovely with a mix of people who paid to go into the 'mosh' area directly in front of the stage, and families spread out on the slope up from stage outside the paid area.
Not sure what Waitangi Day is really other than music and a lovely picnic with friends.
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