Easing New Zealand Into a Bi-cultural Future.
Posted: Monday, June 09, 2008
by Jane Flowers
Web Writer Services
Immigrants to New Zealand, often become aware of the Waitangi Treaty via the New Zealand Immigration Department. They provide a link to their settlement pack web page. The settlement pack refers very briefly to the Waitangi Treaty, mentioning that it is an "Agreement between...subtribes of the Maori people and the New Zealand Government, and...safeguards the development of Maori culture, resources and way of life and maintains Maori as the ancestral people of Aotearo".
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage website , provides an excellent insight into the misunderstandings that lead to these unresolved issues . Their " Drafting the Treaty" discussion questions whether "the translation into Maori was rushed, ambiguous or misleading?"
The eurocentric attitude of the British Expansionism has left a trail of grievances across the world. New Zealand is one of the few countries remaining from this legacy, who are able to engage in discourse and debate. The Waitangi Tribunal is engaged in examining the grievances arising from Maori interpretation of the Treaty. This Tribunal is making a n effort through dialogue, to correct injustices that were historically caused by ethnocentrism.
Whilst many of these issues remain unresolved, the New Zealand Government is attempting to lessen the divide between their peoples. One area of focus is the encouragement of all New Zealander people to become familiar with the Maori language. This is based on Blumer's second premise which suggests that meaning is negotiated through language or symbolic interactionalism
Another area in which the divide is being addressed is via the media which is being used to foster a common culture amongst the people of New Zealand. Grossberg, pre-eminent in cultural studies, believes that culture is one driving factor in attempting to respond to history and ".to what matters in the world of political struggle". Through New Zealand on Air, which is funded by the State, the people of New Zealand are being exposed to state sanctioned biculturalism. Whilst this may be "imperfect" , sharing a common culture may in time make the shortcomings of the Treaty of Waitangi, easier to address.
By using the media to gain the consent, hegemony can allow for peaceful mediation of the Treaty of Waitangi. In particular, the current TV One advertisement "We are One", with the words "don't be afraid of what you're turning into", illustrates how we are being subtly influenced into a common bi-culture . This may ease the transitions the New Zealand public face as the injustices of the Treaty are undone.
References
What is the treaty? (2000). Immigration New Zealand [The Treaty of Waitangi].
Retrieved June 2, 2008, from
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/settlementpack/treaty/WhatIsTheTreaty/
Drafting the treaty. (2008). The Waitangi Treaty [Making the Treaty of Waitangi]. Retrieved June 3, 2008, from New Zealand History Online Website:
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/treaty/read-the-treaty/drafting-the-treaty
Wood, J. (2004) Communication theories in action: An introduction (3rd ed., p 274). London:Wadsworth.
Griffen, E. (2003). A first look at communication theory (5th ed.,p 85). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Goode, L., & Zuberi, N. (2004). Media studies in Aotearoa/New Zealand (p13). Auckland, New Zealand: Pearson Education New Zealand.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Much like years ago with the American Indians only we just gave them a treaty and then ignored it as soon as $$$$ came into play. Difficult for two different culture systems and perspectives.
Its a pity the Maori can't kick the invaders back where they came from.Where the white man goes he leaves all his problems behind him. Makes you ashamed of the colour of your skin.
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