Pretending to be Pacific
Some months ago I was asked by a good friend and colleague at the Salvation Army to be on a commentary panel on the day they released a report on the state of Pacific people in NZ aptly titled More than churches, festivals and rugby. The report is the first of its kind and I congratulate the Social Policy Unit of Salvation Army for showing the leadership and courage to produce it. I rocked up to the launch in Otahuhu thinking it would be a small, intimate affair only to realize I should have dressed better because the place was packed out. Numerous MP’s, community leaders, youth workers, the media and parents were there to get a copy of this excellent document and hear people outline the reasons for the report and preliminary feedback. Our panel of three people spoke, rarked up the audience a bit then retired to our seats.
At the conclusion of the meeting all the political parties attending the launch were invited to nominate someone to speak on their behalf. We heard the usual commitment from all of them to listen to the voices of the community and do their best to engage with us. Forgive me for sounding slightly cynical. NZ First, National, Labour and the Greens all got a chance to speak. That morning though, I heard a comment that absolutely floored me made by the Greens Pacific spokesperson. I’ll be upfront… I like the Greens. They approach conversations with sensitivity and intelligence which is to be commended. But the comment that rocked me was when the Green MP stood up and said that she wasn’t Pacific “but let’s just pretend I’m a Pacific Islander”. Some of us gasped when she made that comment: ‘awkward’ someone in front of me turned and said. Awkward it definitely was. I’ve reflected for a while on the comment this MP made and am still shocked by the fact she made it. Being the pretty laid-back person I am, I think at the time I gave her the benefit of the doubt in making such an awful remark. Perhaps she made this ‘throw-away’ comment to disguise her nerves in an auditorium full of Pacific people. I don’t know.
What I do know is that over the years there have been many forms of people wanting us to look at them and “pretend that they’re Pacific”. MP’s show up to church at precisely the 3-year election cycle. University researchers come into our communities and schools saying they’ll gather the necessary Pacific data to affect change in social policy. Private Training Establishments have set up everywhere promising employment at the completion of a free, certificate-level course. The mainstream media chase our kids for a story promising national fame. Well, the MP’s get elected; the researchers become professors; the PTE’s get rich and the media get ratings. But what of our people? What of our deeply personal stories? Time and again our narratives are produced for mass, mainstream consumption and like foreign-owned companies’ profits, the knowledge and intellectual property go off-shore.
So for the record Jan, pretending hurts: it steals, it lies and it destroys. Pretending has been the means with which people, universities, political parties and numerous other wolves have come into our homes, schools and churches to get what they want. A story, a vote, a signature. More often than not, the contact we’ve had with pretenders has benefitted us nothing. The report on the state of Pacific people released that morning was co-authored by a young Samoan, Tokelauan man who has lived in Mangere, south Auckland all his life. For the first time in forever, one of our people got to tell the story. And whilst the critics have said that the report only tells us the things we already know, the point is ‘we’ got to tell our story. It’s not pretend for those of us who live this reality, who go to church every Sunday with this reality, who shop at the shopping centres of this reality and who support our youth through this reality. Read the report and you’ll see that there’s nothing pretentious about the realities it describes for Pacific people in Aotearoa.
Jan’s comment may have been a faux pas.It sounds like she was trying a bit too hard to express her empathy. However, I doubt she was trying to appropriate Pacific Island identity. I personally agree with the columnist that there is no point in trying to be something you are not. I’m sure if more New Zealanders of Pacific Island origin joined the Greens they would be welcomed with open arms and become Green representatives for the New Zealand Pacific Island community.
I’m sure the Pacific Island community would thrive under a Green goverment, or even a strongly Green influenced one. And one also should consider that the Greens are the only political party that take man made global warming and its effect on Pacific Islands seriously (meaning being prepared to act rather than just talk).
FAMBO, did you read the article? How does ‘pretending: it hurts, it steals, it lies and destroys’ translate to ‘there’s no point trying to be something you’re not’ ??? This comes from the same unevolved colonialist mentality as the message ‘Greens take global warming seriously so Islanders should join them/vote for them’ the glaringly overt subtext of your comment. To pass off cultural appropriation as a ‘faux pas’ is deeply insulting, just as bad as the appropriation itself and your comment smacks of completely misguided paternalism. As one of those who have had to leave Aotearoa in order to grow and truly celebrate diversity and being Samoan, having the Pacific representative, the person supposed to be REPRESENTING the Pacific, (NOT just the ocean) being in possession of such poor judgement should spell DANGER to any Islander contemplating affiliation with that person or their party, Green, Black, White or Polka Dot! FAMBO, I have a film to recommend: Rabbit Proof Fence. Nuff said.
mmmmm …. reminds me a bit of those pollies, Kapiti Coast ‘experts’, aussie ‘Fijian-born’ commentators (I’m thinking of that okker whose name eludes me), bastions of the ‘free Capific Press’ that show up at regular intervals as well – all protesting their expertise.
Usually grey-haired old buggers with attitude that reflects a past paternalistic, racist bent – often sympathetic to those still trying to inflict (rather than involve) Pacific Island citizenry.
The worst thing is that often they’re in positions of power – in that they lecture/impart their absolute wisdom on the new generation of what will become a 4th Estate.
Credulity is also often embouldened by the semi-reasonable (Wallaces et al) – on the basis they have a P.I birthright.
Quite pathetic really. Whether from Crosbie Walshe’s to finger-in-the-air-as-a-political-litmus-test Ratuva’s, to Radio Have-a rest-and-a-lay down in Auckland.
Paternalistic, neo-colonial complete and utter kaka!
Still – it pays the mortgage on various Auckland and Kapiti properties in trendy suburbs
New Zealand – a set of islands – is situated in the South Pacific Ocean.
In the North Pacific Ocean are many archipelagos.
All ‘Pacific Islands’, surely?
We, in this country, are frequently told that many PIs are ‘among the most disadvantaged’ of the people living here.
If we listen to the stories coming from the North Pacific island communities- how does that begin the process of changing to places of decreasing disadvantage? Do the stories empower? Or otherwise?
If ‘we’ come forward, who is coming from the immigrant communities, to work between us to create the means whereby that community thrives in the new country? And keeps a firm hold on the ways of the old country that enable people to thrive? To make a bridge for newcomers.
If South Pacific people are coming to the churches and the meetings, then going away with the stories and data – are they trying to find answers or starting points to resolve the challenge of why a pacific Island group, made of many strands and nationalities, is not thriving here? Why decent and hardworking people are not seeing benefit from all those long hours and honest toil.
Are there stories standing in the way, on both sides?
Challenging blog Fes! I attended the launch of that report as well & I didn’t hear Jan’s comment. But I know Jan professionally & she’s struck me as someone who’s deeply concerned about issues facing New Zealanders, including those facing Pasifika communities. I think her comment is more proof of her uncertainty & lack of familiarity of that setting rather than anything intentionally insensitive.
But it was a silly comment nonetheless.
I like what you’ve said about Pasifika people themselves telling the stories of Pasifika, even if the social indicators are not telling such a good story. I like even more your comments about the politicians, researchers etc coming in & out of Pasifika communities & capturing these Pasifika stories.
Malo Fes, very interesting!