Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
Jun 10th 2011, 1:20 am
#151
slanderer of the innocent
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Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
I think that is a bit unfair Kiwilass. People in the former colonies (reminder that I am a born and raised Kiwi too) often forget that that Britain has its own history of being colonised. Just think of the Romans, Angles, Vikings and Normans, all of whom raided, killed, raped and pillaged the local British population. The British people suffered great cruelty and hardship and those who survived were the ones who adopted the dominant culture of their masters. Does this justify what happened to Maori in NZ? No of course not, but viewing NZ history in a world context doesn't mean denial. In fact it helps to see the bigger picture and develop perspective. We can learn from the history of other people. I have a different viewpoint now that I have moved away, learned more about the rest of the world, and come back home. I think the viewpoints of expats is a useful mirror on ourselves (even if they can be a bit annoying sometimes 
). Expats themselves can also learn from becoming familiar with the culture and history of their new home.
In recent years the majority of migrants are not of British or European decent. I would be interested to know how they feel about being categorised as 'pakeha' which essentially means non-Maori. This can become an important issue when funding hinges on how you are classified. I predict an interesting future for NZ (whatever that means
)
). Expats themselves can also learn from becoming familiar with the culture and history of their new home.In recent years the majority of migrants are not of British or European decent. I would be interested to know how they feel about being categorised as 'pakeha' which essentially means non-Maori. This can become an important issue when funding hinges on how you are classified. I predict an interesting future for NZ (whatever that means
)The Uk hasn't been invaded in any real sense for about 1000 years, hence any attempt to claim that British people know what it's like to be colonized is laughable in my eyes. As in, hahahahaha. I'm pretty sure I have a mix of all England's invaders in my veins, but do I remember anything from 1066? Nope. No one here can honestly say they, their grandparents or grandparents grandparents have experienced that...unless of course they were from a country that was colonized recently, like NZ.
And happily it's 2011 not 1011, so we all understand we can learn from the past, right?
Jun 10th 2011, 2:47 am
#152
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Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
The Uk hasn't been invaded in any real sense for about 1000 years, hence any attempt to claim that British people know what it's like to be colonized is laughable in my eyes. As in, hahahahaha. I'm pretty sure I have a mix of all England's invaders in my veins, but do I remember anything from 1066? Nope. No one here can honestly say they, their grandparents or grandparents grandparents have experienced that...unless of course they were from a country that was colonized recently, like NZ.
Last edited by Robbie2010; Jun 10th 2011 at 2:53 am.
Jun 10th 2011, 3:32 am
#153
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Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
I was told about not sitting on tables in the first job I had when I arrived in 2008. This was from my Pakeha manager and we had no Maori staff working in our company (it was only a small office).
I remained mindful of this and tried never to even perch on a corner in the work environment. In my next job (larger organisation, many Maori and other races/relgions/nationalities) my new boss sat on my desk chatting to me. He seemed oblivious yet he was about 3rd generation New Zealander.
Thus I can conclude that it is not a widely known cultural issue.
With the OP situation, I think the woman was totally out of order for the way she spoke to him and I doubt very much if the low table would have been used for food anyway.
I remained mindful of this and tried never to even perch on a corner in the work environment. In my next job (larger organisation, many Maori and other races/relgions/nationalities) my new boss sat on my desk chatting to me. He seemed oblivious yet he was about 3rd generation New Zealander.
Thus I can conclude that it is not a widely known cultural issue.
With the OP situation, I think the woman was totally out of order for the way she spoke to him and I doubt very much if the low table would have been used for food anyway.
Jun 10th 2011, 6:02 am
#154
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,994
Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
NZ has a very different attitude to Maori culture than even a generation or so ago where it was still being actively stamped out in schools etc (kids were punished for speaking Maori in schools- even in the playground). Te Reo has been all but killed dead as an indigenous first language and the worst damage has been committed pretty recently.
Jun 10th 2011, 6:04 am
#155
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Jun 14th 2011, 10:03 am
#156
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Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Blenheim
Posts: 175
Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
You lot can have your intellectual(bet i have spelt that wrong) conversation/debate/argument. All i want to know is did it happen in Chequers in Blenheim. For no other reason than curiosity as i live in my own little dream world since emigrating ;-)
Jun 15th 2011, 9:38 pm
#158
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Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
What an entertaining thread 
I'm supposed to be writing assignments... 
I'm supposed to be writing assignments...
Jun 15th 2011, 11:46 pm
#160
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Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
Jun 16th 2011, 12:11 am
#162
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Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
Jun 16th 2011, 12:52 am
#163
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Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
Jun 16th 2011, 1:09 am
#164
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Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
Jun 16th 2011, 12:15 pm
#165
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Re: Just been accused of being "culturally insensitive"!
I have only read the first page of responses because I am part maori, and therefore lazy (its genetic I swear)
LIke others have said, putting aside some rubbish maori crap about it being bad to sit on tables, shouldnt you be teaching your 20 month old daughter not to site on tables? In fact, shouldnt she already know?
Agree in that some euro looking people identify as Maori.
However, will also point out that some twatty euros also like to preach maori stuff because they think it makes them look all culturally sensitive and cool or something.
For the record, I am part Maori, I look white and as far as I am concerned am a whitey.
LIke others have said, putting aside some rubbish maori crap about it being bad to sit on tables, shouldnt you be teaching your 20 month old daughter not to site on tables? In fact, shouldnt she already know?
Agree in that some euro looking people identify as Maori.
However, will also point out that some twatty euros also like to preach maori stuff because they think it makes them look all culturally sensitive and cool or something.
For the record, I am part Maori, I look white and as far as I am concerned am a whitey.