Posts by Sacha

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    consensus

    heh

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    everyday conversation isn't about census taking

    Yes, thank goodness.

    Your categories tend to collapse under the weight of their own absurdity, anyway.

    Uh huh, DC Red. I'm not the one effectively calling myself a "New Zealander New Zealander". Greek Australians and Armenian Canadians might find that amusing.

    However I can imagine Tongan New Zealanders (as opposed to Tongans) or Chinese New Zealanders (as opposed to Chinese) being less amused when you are claiming half of their identity as your whole one.

    That's what the charming Mr Henry means when he says NZers who look like "us". You may notice from afar that locals are reacting to his blurt and subsequent non-apology in a less than relaxed fashion. Perhaps ask yourself why they might be upset.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    So yes. I would argue that "Australian," "Canadian," "American," and "New Zealander" are indeed "not-ethnicities." Or rather, they're pseudo-ethnicities, the assertion of which is a way of denying the fact of colonial settlement

    Very good point. I must make time to read Belich's "Settlers" book.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    So I can't use a term to describe myself that belongs to ALL of us?

    Carlos, as others have pointed out to you already *you're not in New Zealand* so of course the term "New Zealander" makes sense for you to use - in much the same way as people tend to not name their suburb when they are not in its city.

    Though I reckon that may be changing. Especially for Aucklanders wanting to make clear they don't come from Albany, culturally speaking.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    Your 'logic' suggests

    Ditch the black or white

    Maybe indicate all the groups you belong to

    We can share the same sense of belonging and have some different ones besides. What's so troublesome about that notion?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    p.s., by some definitions "Pakeha" means "not Maori" and so does not distinguish between people in the way you think it does anyway.

    I'm hopelessly naive

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    What good is done by compartmentalizing people in this way?

    It's kind of useful if you don't wish to retain a childish belief that we're all exactly the same. Oh, and to measure inequality - which is why skepticism is correlated positively with the colour of one's neck.

    And I'm looking forward to Aspie being an ethnicity - but that requires building a culture.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    Perhaps the same courtesy could be extended to those who consider themselves "New Zealanders without qualification"?

    No. 'Courtesy' suggests there's no harm - just like that 'funny' Paul Henry never hurt anyone.

    Claiming a term that belongs to all of us is not ok. It's aggressive.

    Geez, maybe we need (pdf, 518KB) a review or something.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    What's a person of Eurasian Dutch background, who is a 3rd generation citizen of New Zealand to do?

    Maybe indicate all the groups you belong to, like it asks you to.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: Morning in Auckland,

    arguably relate to one ethnicity = "Polynesian."

    These include two nationalities (Samoan, Tongan), and various types of New Zealand citizens (Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan).

    You're confusing ethnicity and race. Clue - it's not an ethnicity if no one other than the Police use it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

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