Thursday 07 October 2010
Have you voted? It’s not too late to get your forms in – take them to any Council today or tomorrow Friday and to any public Library on Saturday before midday. The preliminary results of the Council for the new Auckland will be known by 1pm on Saturday 09th October.
It’s a time of reflection for me on how I campaigned. This is the first time I’ve actually run for a
political position. Make no mistake about it Local Board is all about politics. I only bring this up because I had on the campaign trail been told that Local Board members aren’t real politicians – we’re ‘different’. By ‘different’ I think the person meant we’re at the coal face of the community and that we are the community. I agree with this premise – we are the community. But we have a responsibility to ensure that we positively exploit every policy, budget, legislation, Act and bureaucratic mechanism to advantage our communities. That entrenches us firmly in politics and makes us politicians. You can’t deny what you are by ignoring the facts and calling yourself another name – a rose is still a rose by any other name says Shakespeare. 
As a current affairs journalist and programme producer I’ve covered many local body elections – essentially to critique and scrutinize candidate’s policies and promises and to analyse their campaigning strategies.
Working in Maori media and covering local body elections the tone and tenor of coverage is always one of cynicism, and derision not of any person but of a system that some Maori believe to be racist. A system they say does not allow for Maori to vocalise and champion Maori topics. A system these critics say does not allow Maori to be themselves. I do not agree with these cynics. I think these types of commentators perpetuate the very ideology they say they’re fighting against.
By continuously bleating that Maori issues are ignored and over-looked creates a perception of separatism. By publicizing that Iwi can’t be ‘themselves’ on a campaign trail undermines the strength of Maori as individuals and collectively. For too long now we have listened to naysayer Maori, cynical Maori bemoan our position in this country as less than equal. For too long now Maori have followed these commentators and championed them as leaders. For too long now the dissemination of this type of almost conspiratorial ideology has contributed to a repressive world view.Don’t get me wrong, there are very real historical injustices that still need to be addressed. Maori have faced systemic racism. Some Maori have and still do face personal workplace and street level racism. Maori do make up the majority of those at the bottom of the economic and social ladder.
Don’t get me wrong I do think vocalising injustices and often reminds us to continuously seek level playing fields and to seek justice. But to relentlessly complain without offering solutions is wrong. To demand redress for historical injustices without consideration to the long term affect on individuals and communities is irresponsible. To bleat incessantly about other people’s racist viewpoints toward Maori for publicity is in itself inciting hatred.
What I learnt on the campaign trail was humility. Past all the politicking and racial rhetoric was a community called Owairaka made up of Maori, Pakeha, Asian, African, European, Pasifika determined to live a life of prosperity. A community of people focussed on contributing positively to each other in some way. I met Mums and Dads working hard to give their children a better education than they had and greater opportunities to express their potential.
Owairaka like Maori do not need a constant barrage of cynical oppressive racially divisive diatribe. Nor do we need negative social statistics constantly reinforced as a permanent state of being. What we all desire are advocates of ambition, promoters of a hard work ethic, supporters of self responsibility and community champions.
Good luck to all those running for Council positions around the country, well done for standing up and wanting to make a difference.
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