Māori Party Co-leader and Te Tai Hauāuru candidate Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is calling on the Government to establish an inquiry that is focused on identifying and getting rid of racist monuments, statues and names from our colonial era.
The call for an inquiry follows the actions of activists and governments in states and countries around the world who have committed to bringing down statues and monuments that symbolise racism and oppression.
“What we are seeing right across the world, led by our black brothers and sisters in the USA, is a global push to dismantle systemic racism, including the outdated symbols of that racism,” said Mrs Ngarewa-Packer.
“We still honour some of the most racist and oppressive figures from our colonial history with monuments, statues and place names in towns and cities across the country.
“I am calling on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her government to work alongside hapū and iwi Māori and other communities of colour in Aotearoa to undertake a comprehensive inquiry into colonial monuments and statues, place names, and street names.
“We appreciate that in many cases local councils have responsibility for monuments and place names. However, we need nationwide leadership and an expert-led inquiry with recommendations put to local councils and other relevant groups. We need to address this collectively as Aotearoa.
“We are not saying that all monuments and names from the colonial period should be brought down or changed, that’s why an inquiry should determine which of them are racist, outdated and should go.One example of what needs to change is the street names here in Taranaki of those that waged war on our tupuna, including John Bryce who was responsible for the murder of children and led the Parihaka invasion.
“We can no longer hold up people who dedicated their lives to colonialism and the oppression of indigenous and black peoples as role models or symbols of reverence and pride. We should focus on celebrating those who brought us together and fought for the peace, justice and freedom of all peoples,” said Mrs Ngarewa-Packer.
So now the Maori party is getting side tracked. Concern yourself with the real problems facing maori families. Lets not start a witch hunt that will only be divisive. Lets not destroy statues or deface names and signposts. Lets not attack or boycott businesses and institutions. You are only one step away from those hateful groups burning books.
Focus on the needs of your constituents. They don’t give a shit about a street named after some long dead person. They worry about food, rent the condition of their house, healthcare education and employment. Deliver in those areas
If this will stop babies and children being killed monthly, and put shoes onto cold feet, and food into hungry bellies, and families into homes, or stop women from living in pain and in fear, then by all means have yet another costly tax-payer funded inquiry into into the signposts of history which mean little to most, or an inquiry into them would not be necessary.
Why not just smash all old statues just to be on the safe side should further ‘truths’ emerge in future, or should mores change ?
Remove every town’s war memorial commemorating the dead who fought in other people’s wars ?
What about the bare-breasted girl on Napier’s waterfront suggesting Maori women are promiscuous and body-shaming all women ?
Why assume that every aspect of colonialism was bad ?
Better also burn the books mentioning the Maori practices of slavery and cannibalism.
Perhaps it was ok in that culture but not others?
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