The Hikoi's coming

As I expected (and predicted) the hikoi protesting against the MCA bill is off to an underwhelming start. This is hardly unexpected given Maori concern is primarily focussed on the cost of living and the like. There is really an inherent intangibility in the notion of mana whenua. Some Maori, mainly urban Maori disconnected from their culture, find it difficult to capture and hold any depth of feeling towards such an issue. This is disappointing yet entirely understandable. To some extent Maori values, such as mana whenua, are a result of cultural conditioning as opposed to some sort of genetic hardwiring. With this is mind it is understandable that the hikoi is off to a slow start in Auckland.

Having said that it is reasonable to expect to see an increase in numbers as the hikoi passes through coastal rohe where tino rangatiratanga is strong. I do not expect the hikoi to surpass, in terms of size, the hikoi of 2004. I do expect to see a large increase in numbers though.

One would think that given the huge rate of Maori unemployment, stagnant wages, the rise in GST and tax cuts for the rich that Maori would be hitting the streets in their tens of thousands. Though as we can see this is not occurring. I think this is not occurring because the MCA bill is the wrong issue. As I said many Maori find it hard to connect with the issue, but more importantly most Maori who protested against the Foreshore and Seabed confiscation of 2004 are now members of the Maori Party. This is their bill so naturally they are not going to oppose it.

I look forward to meeting the hikoi in Wellington and I can’t wait to see the Maori Party, and Labour for that matter, react to it. Something tells me the Greens will be the only ones who show up on the day.

As an aside Tim Selwyn has done some outstanding work re the MCA bill. See Tumeke.   

Spot on, Tim

Tim Selwyn provides some useful insight in his latest post. It is worth reading the entire post but I want to focus on this point;

I put it like this: Pita Sharples is like Martin Luther King Jr. He has the weight of the movement on his shoulders and his mantle of leadership and responsibility

means he has to be more conservative than people with less to lose and will co-operate with the authorities when the opportunity arises to gain concessions.

Whereas Hone Harawira is like Malcolm X. He is the firebrand who won't shut up. He will tell the brutal truth to anyone and everyone at every opportunity, and he won't be part of any half-measures and compromises. Both have used the "field negro/house negro" comparison in describing the situation of their people in their own societies.

Both men were assassinated - Malcolm X at a point when he may have joined up with MLK.

So I think about the political assassination going on here where Hone is being taken out in order to keep the "moderate" collaborators inside the government as the official representatives of the movement.

This is an excellent comparison and it goes some way towards explaining what is behind Pita Sharple’s apparent ideological transformation. Weight of expectation is always likely to breed caution (i.e. conservatism). For small parties politics is often a choice between risk and result. Small parties can take a risk and engage in a bit of political gamesmanship and come out with all or nothing. Alternatively small parties can play a safe game (i.e. play by the script) and come out with regular concessions. Pita has obviously chosen the latter option. 

In my opinion Tim’s assassination analogy also holds true. Hone continues to strain the National Party/Maori Party relationship and, in the interests of government stability and continued concessions, the MP needs to isolate or eliminate him.

Lastly, it is pleasing to see a post that offers a rational take on Pita’s conservatism (conservatism doesn’t feel like the right word but you get the picture). I’m sick of hearing that Pita and co. have just become seduced by the ‘baubles of office’. That’s such an easy smear and it lacks any intellectual integrity.

Maori Bloggers (part two)

A few days ago I asked readers whether or not they knew of any Maori bloggers/blogs. I had hoped that more names would have come up but I guess the Maori blogsphere is quite desolate. The following is a list Maori blogs and bloggers that I know of;

mars 2 earth (author: Marty Mars)

mars 2 earth is probably the most popular Maori blog - and with good reason. Marty Mars focuses on kaitiakitanga and offers a view of politics from a Maori/Ngai Tahu perspective (he also posts regularly unlike most other Maori bloggers).

Whenua Fenua Enua Vanua (Ana)

Whenua Fenua Enua Vanua is another leading Maori blog. Ana posts on a range of issues affecting Maori and other indigenous people and along with marty is one of the only Maori bloggers to post on a regular basis.

Ahi-kā-roa (Carwyn Jones)

Ahi-kā-roa focuses on legal issues affecting Maori and other indigenous people. The blog is written by Carwyn Jones, a Victoria University law lecturer. Posts are in depth yet infrequent.

KJT. Random musings on all sorts of things (KjT)

KjT comments almost exclusively on economic issues. According to his bio he is concerned about neo-liberal meanness. It is excellent having a Maori blogger who can comment competently on economic issues.

Te Waainga Wahine (various)

Te Waainga Wahine is a collective of Maori women - a strong voice for Wahine Maori. The blog usually reproduces press releases and links to material from prominent Maori women such as Annette Sykes and Ani Mikaere.

He Hōaka (Kim Mcbreen)

He Hōaka is an undiscovered gem. Like Ahi-kā-roa posting is infrequent but comprehensive and thoughtful.

Roarprawn (Bustedblonde)

Roarprawn is a popular right wing blog. The blog’s author is Ngai Tahu. Although I find her conclusions pretty peculiar it is an interesting blog and an enjoyable read. NB: I do not class Roarprawn as a Maori blog – the author just happens to be Maori.

Tim Selwyn (Tumeke)

Tim Selwyn is a popular Maori blogger. Tim has a very good understanding of Maori politics, as well as national politics, but does not post frequently on Maori political issues.

Rawiri Taonui also writes online columns here and here.

All in all a fairly short but eminent list of blogs and bloggers. There is a good mix of male and female and young and old. I guess the only problem is that the list is overwhelmingly left wing (it could be argued that this merely reflects the Maori population though). If I have missed anyone out please leave a comment.

Maori bloggers...

Scott at Imperator Fish has an interesting post covering NZ lawyers who blog and it got me thinking about Maori who blog.

I do not know of many besides perhaps marty mars, Tim Selwyn and Carwyn Jones. As far as I know there are no ‘prominent’ Maori bloggers on either the left or right. This is an unfortunate situation and one of the reasons I blog.

If you do know of any, prominent and not so prominent, please let me know so I can compile a sidebar list.