The debate around saying a Māori prayer to open the Kaipara Council has set off angry reactions from both sides as two forces collide, Western Secularism vs Indigenous Mana.
Somehow this has become a culture war where defenders of banning the prayer claim its inclusion is a direct affront to the philosophical and intellectual values of Western Secularism while Māori are left angrily frustrated that once again they have to somehow demand their own customs and values are respected in the land of their home.
While I am an absolute believer in Western Secularism and its power and importance, I in no way shape or form see a blessing from the indiginous people of our nation opening a civic meeting is somehow any infringement on the separation of State and Church!
Firstly, the liberal poprgressive democracy that Western Secularism has built has the flexibility and strength of being inclusive of minority rights and indiginous culture.
Secondly, this isn’t a culture war! It’s basic respect and cultural courtesy!
This is Aotearoa New Zealand in the year 2022. You open a civic meeting, public event, or political occasion with a karakia, because we are mature enough to see that as a strength rather than a capitulation of Western Civilization.
When the haka is performed, it’s for all New Zealanders, just as a karakia is for all New Zealanders.
The need to paint this Kaipara Council karakia as an existential threat to New Zealand democracy is desperate, ridiculous and beneath the mana of all of us as Kiwis.
Our biculturalism in a multicultural society is a strength, not a weakness.
First published on Waatea News.
I’m all for the inclusion of all cultures. So why paint the idea of Council pre-meeting Karakia being optional (rather than compulsory) as an existential threat to Maori?
There is no such thing as ‘Western secularism’, just as there is no such thing as ‘Western science’.
Many Māori are still in the grip of Western religion that Western missionaries imposed upon them in the 19th century as part of Western colonialism.
But they, like all of us, deserve the freedom of a society that maintains a stout fence to separate the secular civic life of the community from the private observance of religion.
Tikanga and the right to secularism can both be satisfied if karakia are nonreligious and invoke no presumed supernatural beings.
The Kaipara District Council had already used nonreligious karakia at the start of council meetings for several years. They ought to have satisfied new mayor Craig Jepson’s demand for ‘secularism’; his refusal to allow them suggests his real war was against tikanga Māori, not a defence of secularism. Karakia such as this Kaipara one ought not offend even the most militant secularist:
‘Kia hora te marino
‘Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana
‘Hei hurahi mā tātou I te rangi nei
‘Aroha atu, aroha mai
‘Tātou i a tātou katoa.’
‘(May peace be widespread, May the sea be like greenstone; a pathway for all of us this day. Let us show respect for each other, for one another. Bind us all together).’
The real shame is that within 3 years Maori will realize that the Maori wards they have fought so hard for will just be window dressing. The fresh young Maori councilors ready to be a voice for their people will be disillusioned and bitter.
The reality is most councils are controlled by the mayor, a small group of inner councilors and the town clerk. The agenda is set and the proceedings are ordered so that innovation and change are virtually impossible.
You need only look at the photo of that Kaipara mayor spreading himself into that young councilors space to see the difficult road she faces.
“It’s basic respect and cultural courtesy!”
EXACTLY, keeping your prayers at Marae-Church/home is basic respect and courtesy! So too is not not shitting all over council rules, completely taking over a meeting, and threatening the council!
Meanwhile, when are councils going to stop being corrupt little fiefdoms, only ever listening to special interest groups? Our fragile local “democracies” do nothing for their constituents, THAT is why they aren’t robust enough to take on faff and prayers.
Practically, in the workplace, performing a karakia can be experienced as a power dynamic more than a cultural one. A bullying government department I worked in had a Maori or Pacifica employee recite a karakia before all social functions, this person being decided upon by a happenstance predominantly Samoan clique of persons nearly all related to each other, a separate issue, which I raised, amongst other things, with the then State Services Commissioner, one of the Prebbles. The department manager, a not unreasonable man, went along with what he was told.
As a union delegate I raised this with the other two delegates, one Samoan and one Maori, as I thought it implied that only Maori have a spiritual dimension in their lives, which is not true, and is not necessarily anything to do with religion or religious beliefs.
These aren’t the sort of philosophical discussions of which PSA delegates are enamoured, and I was told that if they identified a suitable Pakeha person, then that person would be invited to say a karakia.
Along the track an elderly white bloke known to be a church going Anglican was invited to say the prayer, following which, they reverted to the norm of a karakia recited by a Maori or perhaps sometimes Pacifica person. This government department was riddled with often mischief -making undercurrents, and the reciting of the karakia could be seen as one group setting themselves up as morally superior to those outside of it. I had no interest in pursuing the issue.
In the same department I was accused of ‘making racist comments in the workplace.’ I progressed the matter to the ERA, and was vindicated at ERA mediation, but found it a harrowing experience.
Your last sentence sums up exactly why things like karakias become entrenched and “part of the council tradition’ – anyone who disagrees is attacked and will likely either lose their job or see their career path blocked so most just go along with it.
Daniel. Yes. The manger of that same department expressed his concern to me about why staff would not speak up at floor meetings. As I commented, he himself was not an unreasonable man, but the calibre and knowledge of other employees was rather variable, and one has to learn watch one’s step to
avoid bizarre accusations; it seems to be worse in govt depts now, which is counterproductive.
“..all religion is superstition, and superstition is ignorance.” Christopher Hitchens.
The reality is most councils are controlled by the mayor, a small group of inner councilors and the town clerk.
We haven’t had town clerks — or those other useful roles such as borough engineers — since Michael Basset remade local government in 1989. But as you allude, we now have general managers, to whom all staff report, ensuring a sharp separation between the now-impotent councillors and the council staff who used to carry out the policies of elected councillors.
Western prayers=Maori mana? It seems in this fantasy world things can be anything you want them to be. Maori spiritual beliefs are animist hence te ao Maori embracing the life forms inherent in everything around us. I actually relate to that. There is a mysterious wonder in how life regenerates, the Earth renews itself through upheaval and how we humans have to live within that life force.
But like all religious and strongly held beliefs they are personal and in a secular society should never be laid upon the general population. It is a discourtesy which I have felt often. The only problem seems to be that there has been an historical courtesy extended which has become an expectation/demand now.
With the recent, perceived “undemocratic issues” this has come to the fore and the pushback is inevitable and will grow.
100% this won’t get by the mods.
Having worked in settings where karakia was expected, I got use to doing it to get it out of the way. No respect from me, mild irritation. But if I had of been attending a marae, then yes of course I would completely respect the practices.
I was organising events for not for profit groups and again expected we would do a karakia because this had become the norm and there was always the threat that some, mostly Pakeha, would take issue if we didn’t. It started with us offering a (rather generous) Koha. Then we were told by a Maori member that the kaumatua we used wasn’t Kaupapa Maori (insulting to their own). We were told we needed a more professional group. So we went with that and we’re charged quite a bit of money (we were not for profit, I was a volunteer). I know a gravy train trying when I see one.
Anyway with Kaupapa, where is the respect for the Mayoral office and council rules. And what about democracy? Those marchers calling on the cancellation of the Mayor…….
100% this won’t get by the mods.
Having worked in settings where karakia was expected, I got use to doing it to get it out of the way. No respect from me, mild irritation. But if I had of been attending a marae, then yes of course I would completely respect the practices.
I was organising events for not for profit groups and again expected we would do a karakia because this had become the norm and there was always the threat that some, mostly Pakeha, would take issue if we didn’t. It started with us offering a (rather generous) Koha. Then we were told by a Maori member that the kaumatua we used wasn’t Kaupapa Maori (insulting to their own). We were told we needed a more professional group. So we went with that and we’re charged quite a bit of money (we were not for profit, I was a volunteer). I know a gravy train trying when I see one.
Anyway with Kaupapa, where is the respect for the Mayoral office and council rules. And what about democracy? Those marchers calling on the cancellation of the Mayor…….
Anker On specific occasions, a kaumatua from Wellington’s eastern suburbs, was invited to perform the karakia at a government department. I was copied an email, mistakenly, I thought at that time, from the manager to a service manager, saying that $300 koha, plus extra for his wife for assisting him, was too much, and was outside their budget allocation. I didn’t attend the function. During my time there, I was fed various titbits with suggestions that I go to the media, but never did.
Comically, one confidential money matter which did make it into the Dom, was found to have come from the aforementioned SM gossiping to a former colleague in the street, but she always survived everything, bringing in an outside lawyer at the drop of a hat and threatening managers wanting a peaceful life. I quite liked her, but she was known to be vindictive, with the memory of an elephant.
7 meetings this week with a large variety of stakeholders and many ethnicities including Maori. Not one karakia, nor one expected.
But I guess I work in the private sector, and our time is valuable. What does it say about the public sector when they’re absolutely fine to stop for a prayer every meeting? Oh that’s right, they’re not paying for it.
Particularly when none in the room understands what is being said or whether the sentiment is relevant or offensive to agnostics, atheists or various believers of spiritual cult nonsense.
100% BG. The public service have been infected with decolonisation and CRT. If they truly decolonized the public service, the public service would surely cease to exist
The situations where karakia are performed almost always have a public dimension and representative function. For instance a meeting of councillors.
As a rule private firms do not have such a role. Their role is fundamentally commercial as opposed to the provision of public services. So i would not expect karakia except on very particular occasions.
This is a basic distinction between the public sector and the private sector. One that I would have thought was generally quite well understood.
BG. Precisely. A sibling whose spouse is Maori, bristled about taxpayer money spent funding private ethnic activities in Wellington government departments, sometimes involving more than the simple performing of a karakia.
The mayor is just another National party “Merv”.
What hypocrisy !
NZ is not secular . Have you checked out the NZ flag all voted for ?
There’s THREE crosses on it .
Then there’s that national anthem, it’s a Christian PRAYER.
All sing together now……so we know Working out Thy glorious plan…
1.God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific’s triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
2. Men of every creed and race,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our state,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.
Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.
4. Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our free land.
From dishonour and from shame,
Guard our country’s spotless name,
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.
5. May our mountains ever be
Freedom’s ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto Thee,
God defend our free land.
Guide her in the nations’ van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy glorious plan,
God defend New Zealand.
Dreadful doggerel. Possibly the world’s worst, and most religious, national anthem.
Bring back God save the King! lol
It was that or laser kiwi, and laser kiwi didn’t make the cut…
I’m a 5th generation NZ of European descent, there is no way in the world I’d ever sing the lyrics of that ridiculous ditty beseeching favours of an imaginary fairy, nor the other NZ anthem, the royally sycophantic one that’s the same as the UK one.
Both persist as official anthems because we haven’t been arsed to replace them with something relevant that we can agree upon. Maybe one day NZ will grow up. Until then, whatever.
The point is that the indignation is willful blindness, and the underlying feigned concerns expressed are hypocrisy. A bunch of plaster saints inventing myths.
Every part of a day is some form of an indoctrinated ritual in effect enforced on people from multiple old societies and cultures.
My mother’s recent funeral. 7 days of mourning before burial, so many took part in planning the many final rites, and they choose many rituals meaningful to their own heritage and many , many ‘ cultures ‘ to enact throughout the whole process that they believed were paramount in recognizing who she was; both as a descendant of many generations and honouring her life’s works to many people. There was even the talk of an incredible natural phenomena people witnessed in the moments she died. On the eve of the burial a ropu travelled to the vigil , whakamoemiti were said and moteatea chanted in a church. A Catholic, 5 decades of the Rosary were said . The Luminous Mysteries were used. Her body was prepared, dressed in attire befitting her life, and her outer skin beautified by her family. Dating back to ancient Egypt, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren placed items and writings in the coffin, these link the living and the dead. Some grandkids wrote or drew inscriptions on the underside of the lid , an ancient ritual from many nations. Songs at the funeral were from many heritages, including Latin. The internment at the cemetery was full of rites, placing handfuls of soil, the fauna chosen was from generations of cuttings grown from her plants; and incantations/blessings including a very old Irish one were spoken. Some weeks later another memorial service of ” All Souls” where it’s traditionally believed that the souls of the dead return to their family and speak to their descendants.
My mother had what was common to all, she was human.
Were the mourners INDIGENISED ?
NO. Were they fearful, threatened by an imaginary takeover of their souls ? Were they possessed and turned and reborn as another ethnicity? NO !
We invent these modern terms as social constructs, words such as ” indiginised” , as a form of subversive manipulation to infer there’s an enemy. AND conveniently and cunningly pick and choose those we can utilize to exploit for own gains. This terminology is modern bullshit to cover up wrongdoing, inadequacies and ignorance.
We are not a fucking skin colour to be studied and analysed like a lab rat , as ‘the other’ by those who dictate the fallacies of how people should behave and laughingly believe they are the superior knowledge holders.
The righteousness is two-faced. As a nation, even in trade, we constantly and selectively appropriate others rituals to meet unspoken capitalist goals …. exploit the ‘ indigenous’ values and protocols of the international Trader to achieve a deal. Halal meat prayer and process, keirei and Saikeirei, kava ritual, watch jack booting parades…. or even dismiss the decimation of the Sahrawi people for fertiliser or displacement of Indonesian indigenous people for PKE.
Breakdown and analyse some of the commentary; there’s the reek of ” white is right ” supremacy. The recent immigrants to NZ by a countable mere few 180 years or less ( many uninvited and without visas) now dictating to others what ‘ kiwi’ is. The biggest threat is indoctrinated , insular thinking and the barely disguised forms of WHITE NATIVISM expressed here.
To the believers who think being kiwi is being secular ……Happy white Christian Christmas to all. The GODs of banking and Corporates wish you prosperity too.
Condolences for your loss O’Toole.
I completely agree with you
Maintaining secularism is not racist unless it is used as a vehicle to promote a racist agenda which in the case of the Kaipara Mayor may well be the case. My secularism does not sympathise with religion or spirituality so I am not going to take part however well meaning. Race or culture has nothing to do with it.
O’Toole: very good insights from you but the sneering tone of superiority is not necessary. When you mature, hopefully you will have reconciled all the facets of human nature with being an imperfect human. Since our small worlds have become global the inevitable interbreeding and mixing and mingling of human races has produced a hotchpotch. From this people choose what is relevant to them as an individual. As in any relationship things fall apart when we try to make others do what we want (but they may not want). This happens when people have power and money.
Why are my comments not being posted? Is TDB censoring people who don’t toe the Karakia/3WatersGood/Co-governance line?
Yes.
Good