The dawn raids were shameful, because in essence they set out to pick up anybody who didn’t look like a Pākehā or palangi New Zealander. They swooped on people who were Māori, they swooped on many Pasifika people who had absolutely lawful residence in New Zealand, may even have been born here…
Helen Clark
It was a painful time to be a Pacific Islander in New Zealand. I don’t think it’s something we should hide from.
Oscar Kightley in Sunday Star Times, 31 July 2005
The police proposed that they would simply stop people in the street and ask them for their documentation – hello, what is this? South Africa? Pass laws, you’ve got to carry your passport to prove you’re a Kiwi. I don’t think they meant to be so offensive, but it was wierd.
Ex Minister of Immigration Aussie Malcolm
Statistics show that through the 70s and the 1980s, that the bulk of overstayers in New Zealand were actually from Europe and from North America, but they weren’t targeted to anything like the same extent.
Massey University Professor Paul Spoonley
…Very much was made of the word ‘dawn raids’. It’s very emotive. Just remember — these young fellas were working in the freezing works, heading off to work at five and six in the morning. They were on long shifts and so on, and that was the only time you could get them.
Former Police Task Force Commander Ross Dallow
Thoughts on this
Given that the Government has issued a formal apology, it’s clear that this was a shameful episode in NZ history.
Don’t doubt that there was overstaying or breaches of immigration conditions, but the response to this was in no way proportional, and went as far in some cases to become a fundamental violation of human rights.
Stop and search – comparison to “pass laws” in South Africa under Apartheid are not unjustified.
Oceania / Pacific Island
Select 1 or 2 Conversation points
What do you know about the current concerns of the communities of the Pacific Island groups? A couple of options are below a. Use google to find out about Banaba and Bikini islands both forsaken for economic or/an political power. Discuss what you found out. b. Provide examples like the impacts of climate crisis and reflect on Hauofa’s point about kaitiaki roles,
If someone asked you what is a Pacific Islander? What would you say? Would you say that is you? a. Discuss, why b. Or would you not? & discuss why not?
Discuss what you know about the Pacific a. Who lives there b. Its expanse c. Its history
How heard is the voice of the Pacific Island identity (beyond NZ) in terms of political & economic power – internationally or even within Oceania? Discuss your ideas.
Do you listen to Pacific Rapp? Why and what does it say to you?
Utu is a Māori concept of reciprocation or balance.
To retain mana, both friendly and unfriendly actions require an appropriate response, hence utu covers both the reciprocation of kind deeds, and the seeking of revenge.
Utu can also be used in reference to monetary repayments, paying or repaying.
‘Utu (Māori Concept)’. Wikipedia, 2 May 2021. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Utu_(M%C4%81ori_concept)&oldid=1020944190.
Group discussion on culture and “banal nationalism”
We discussed how NZ culture has sought definition, and how a kind of idealistic view of what it means to be a New Zealander has been brought into NZ advertising.
Another name for this is Kiwiana, meaning iconic items that have a distinctly New Zealand flavour. Some examples below:
Landscapes
Sky tower
Buzzy bee
Baches
Hangi
Maori
NZ wildlife
Bungee
Maybe Hilux!
Fish and Chips
We discussed how these things are how a culture seeks to internally define itself.
What is the purpose of this?
We did discuss how commercial exploitation is an obvious example of why this kind of iconography is used, but our feelings were that it goes deeper than this.
Initially, NZ advertising had a very British approach and feel to it, including the accents and “received pronunciation” common in Britain at time. We discussed how this was perhaps a colonizers approach – to define the colony exclusively in reference to the “mother” country.
One thing we noted was that a transition away from this British-centric approach gradually occurred, with an acceleration in the 1970s as Britain turned towards Europe and away from its former colonies. Then, different accents started to be heard was reached in NZ advertising .
We also noted that at this time there was increased visibility of the diverse cultures than inhabit NZ.
We contrasted visibility versus representation. The other cultures that we saw in the advertising at the time were in the background, and were not part of the main dialogue of the adverts.
Hints and tips on assignment…
We had a brief discussion to give us some hints on how best to write up our assignment. This was an interesting digression, given that I spend most of my day writing anyway. It was helpful to contrast academic writing styles versus what I usually do!
So, we only get 700 words for this assignment (+/- 10%).
How to make the 700 words we have work best?
Make each paragraph about a new concept.(some concept) is from place, time, who, etc.
Use in-text citations.
Conclude at the end of each para, then write an overall conclusion as a separate paragraph.
Secular, free from restriction, open, clean, whole, ordinary, normal (but be careful with this word – opposite is obviously not abnormal in this context).
Use of karakia to draw a line between your state before you start something, and then after you’ve ended doing something.
Nutritious, can grow easily in NZ, can store very easily. Not sure what relevance this has to whakapapa.
Some traditional Polynesian plants wouldn’t thrive in NZ.
Lots of varieties of Kumera, so there’s probably one that fits in somewhere. However, there were maybe 80 varieties, but only three left.
We have selectively decreased Kumera genetic diversity, potentially to select disease resistance, reduce competitive plants, make it easier to have large scale production, consumerization, etc.
Some efforts made late in the day to increase diversity.
“How the Gok’s saved the Kumera”.
Seed stock of Kumera given away to the Japanese by the government.
Whakapapa again as a way of showing people how to live life according to traditional values.
GMO
So the difference is speed? We hybridize things all of the time.
This is not to say that we should not pursue GMO; the issues seem to be around the cross-breeding of species.
Is it OK to apply GMO to things without a whakapapa.
Wonder how agapanthus fits into this
Michael Parekowhai, The Lighthouse, 2017, installation
The Lighthouse is an artwork by Michael Parekowhai. Its exterior is in the form of a 1:1 scale 1950s family home and its interior features an installation of light as well as a sculpture of Captain Cook, titled The English Channel. It is surrounded by a wooden jetty that “floats” on Queens Wharf. The public can explore the work by looking through its windows and doors and by climbing the staircase.
The Lighthouse is the house that holds the whole universe as we know it. The interior finish is highly reflective and features clusters of neon lights that represent the star constellations which illuminate around all of the surfaces. The combination of light and the form of the fireplace implies the notion of ahi kā; that home fires are burning and the house is warm with people.
The presence of The English Channel, sitting among the stars, grounds the work. This version of Captain Cook is not the heroic figure that we often see; instead he’s more pensive and thoughtful. He faces toward the fire, as if he’s warming his feet, but his gaze and mind are elsewhere.
The Lighthouse can be viewed from Queens Wharf or from the sea on the Waiheke or Devonport ferries. The artwork is part of Auckland Council’s public art collection, and was funded by Barfoot & Thompson and anonymous donors.
The Lisa Reihana piece
Lisa Reihana: in Pursuit of Venus (infected)
in Pursuit of Venus, the panoramic video by Lisa Reihana, is a moving image interpretation of the French scenic wallpaper Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique.
