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Leader's LetterMarch 2004
Maori Need Equal Opportunities, Not SlogansTHE RECENT REPORT by the Council of Christian Social Services on foodbank clients confirms what many of us already knew – there is a growing Maori underclass in New Zealand. Maori are the highest users of foodbanks nationwide, which only adds to the depressing statistics. Maori feature negatively in most social indicators, including educational achievement, income, employment, health, criminal offending and welfare dependency. To many of us, these are things we read about and perhaps discuss, but they don’t seem to really touch us. We don’t often see those people at the bottom. We don’t witness their daily struggles to feed their children. But all those children brought up in poverty will in some way affect our children, and shape our society, so we all have an interest in their welfare. Given that many Maori are still languishing at the bottom, there is obviously a need for a fresh approach. Current events have put race relations to the forefront, and politicians are desperately trying to grab the headlines off each other – but that’s politics. What needs to be remembered amid all the rhetoric and political point scoring currently going on is that Maori bashing is not going to get anyone anywhere. Don Brash is exploiting a vein of public perception that Maori are taking resources off the rest of the population. The debate over the foreshore and seabed has only added to that perception over the last nine months. However, reports such as the one on foodbank use tell us otherwise. Despite the Government’s “good news” items on low unemployment and socially aware policies, Maori are still struggling. Needsbased or race-based makes no difference when you can’t afford to provide for your family. New Zealand First believes that it’s time to ask why present policies are not providing real opportunities. We view this report as a wake-up call. What is needed more than anything right now is clear, rational policy development that provides opportunities for everybody, including Maori, to improve their lives and the lives of their children. Pita Paraone
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