The most dangerous and challenging jail is prejudice: the self-imposed jail we imprison ourselves in when we close our minds, hearts and eyes. Too many kiwis have their minds shut to the huge potential and opportunities we have with our Treaty partners and fellow kiwis, the Tangata Whenua.
Sadly, for too long Maori have been over represented in our jails, unemployment queue and our hospitals. If you take someone’s land, their culture, their language and leave them abandoned at the end of the welfare queue that is what will happen. Maori have struggled to survive. Over the last 50 years that has slowly but surely changed. With their stubborn refusal to lie down and the government recognising some Treaty claims, Maori are slowly becoming the Treaty partner they should have been a 150 years ago.
Allies
With a return of a very small amount of lands, fisheries and forests and some very small compensation payments they are starting to play a significant role in the NZ economy, you only need to look at Tainui in the Waikato and Nga Tahu in Canterbury.
Maori will not sell the land to foreign owners will not take the profits overseas but will reinvest in our future. This benefits us all.
Currently, 40% of the children in the wider BOP under 15 are Maori and with an ageing population it is critical they play an important role in our future. We must not leave them behind.
With our country rapidly filling with immigrants (70,000 in two years) our Treaty partners, the Tangta Whenua are our best allies to protect our combined cultures, our environment and provide a sustainable path forward.
By Terry Molloy
I write to this magazine because the above issues are one of the most important conversations our wonderful country can have.
