Your say: Accepting racial diversity

Stuff readers have their say on comments by the Human Rights Commission that New Zealanders are embracing the increasingly diverse population.

RE: Kiwis 'learning to accept racial diversity'

Feedback (latest posts at top):

Small country, small minds. I guarantee most of the racism comes from people who have never traveled very much, have never properly let go of mummy's apron strings, would never dream of moving to a foreign country to live, except Australia, and who really need to get a life and get out a bit and see some of this world and all its differences and beauty and not just stay at home and become bitter and twisted.
RB

As long as NZ has political parties based solely on race, specialdisproportionate handouts for alleged "wrongs" committed by dead  people against dead people and so on, equality will never exist. One type of New Zealander, represented in one Parliament by the same   parties and all sharing equally in government and Crown spending - then and only then will we all be equal.
Bill S

I am an immigrant Asian, living and working in Christchurch for the past 10 years. I have been fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to be part of the brightest modelling/planning team in the country. My bosses and colleagues are exemplary individuals, and I look forward to working with them every day from the get-go. they still pass around racist banters and opinions around the lunch room, but these are all understandably done in jest. As much as I love being in New Zealand, there are two fundamental barriers that have constantly casted doubt on my personal development in this country - the inevitable glass ceiling and the lack of social integration, in and outside of work. I'm not entirely sure about how things are done in other bigger cities in NZ, but not being part of the right alma mater serve as a big hurdle in getting around in Christchurch. I have come to accept the reality that it is highly improbable for me to climb the ladder within the industry in the country - its the minutiae that give it away; oft ignored when initiating the shaking of hands, opinions mistrusted - the fundamentals that build professional relationships. I don't go out on weekends anymore - nocturnal Christchurch has gotten too rowdy for me to enjoy the odd night life. The only mainstream Asian-friendly bar is beyond my social age bracket, and the stares and substandard services received from gentile establishments are simply off-putting. Yes, it hurts to wade through this unrecognised struggle but by no means these setbacks are stopping me from planting my anchor firmly in NZ. While I accept this contemporary social strata, I shall look forward to seeing the first Asian All Black in this lifetime. I sincerely believe this would be the greatest ice-breaker for our social acceptance in this country.
Larry

Whoever says "race doesn't matter" is really speaking in an induced state of political-correctness that speaks volumes of the utterers' compliant state of mind. Of course, race matters because it's literally "in your face" all the time and to deny the obvious is rather hypocritical. Those who parrot the innocuous statements such as the "we're all one race" mantra, have not removed their rose-coloured glasses to see beyond the territorial waters of New Zealand to observe differing tribes in constant conflict and each vying for their own racial interests. Enforced multiculturalism or racial diversity upon western nations is nothing but a political tool to undermine long established homogeneous nations such as Britain, Canada, Australia, western Europe and yes, New Zealand too. With Asia's billions of people sitting on little NZ's doorstep, it doesn't take much imagination to know that White people will become a minority in their own country if the current immigration trend continues on its' designed course. This topic of 'tolerance' would not have been an issue 10-15 years ago because the numbers didn't warrant it.  Today, some NZers' are beginning to stir from their slumber, realising their developed country is being silently colonised by other races without their permission, resulting in some, using crude gestures and remarks to express themselves. Japan is well aware of the incipient tool to 'divide and conquer' and discourages migrating foreigners (en mass), looking un-like themselves from entering their county, thus avoiding a topic such as this. Perhaps a lesson could be learned here.
G Turner

There is only one race in this world.... the human race.
Megan Scot

I am an ex-pat NZer who has lived in the States for the last 25 years.  When I left NZ at the age of 23, it was one of the most racially tolerant and peaceful countrys in the world. I have been home many times and read the NZ papers daily.  It is disheartening to say the least to be able to compare the parity in NZ culture to that of the States: racially divided, criminally minded, intolerant and brutal.  Where is the NZ I left?  Keep it up Kiwis and you will surely be in the running to be the 51st United State.
Expat Kiwi

I don't agree that people are accepting racial diversity as much as we are expected to accept it otherwise we are called racist or intolerant. I think that people coming to NZ to live should intergrate into our society and not bring a myriad of problems with them including religions which are not part of our culture. I would like to see a referendum on this to gauge the true feeling of New Zealanders. Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said the majority of New Zealanders were pretty tolerant: "We've got a section of the community who are undoubtedly intolerant but I think it's a small percentage." This is a perfect example of how we are categorised if we do not agree with certain opinions.
Annie M

Megan, these so called 'Maori only' schools are for all New  Zealanders. What they do is encourage people to immerse  themselves into Maori culture. I suggest you get your facts straight before attacking the concept. Racism is definitely an issue in NZ and comes from all sides.  We can  all sit here and play the blame game but the fact is, we all get our fair share of racism, no matter who we are.
Carrie Bellamy

The opinion poll is a bit disapointing really, and perhaps misleading.  It would be interesting to add in the ethnic source of respondents.  For example how many 'white' NZers have experienced racism against them. As a NZer of European descent I have experienced it in NZ and overseas.
NJA

To give you some background, I work with newcomers to New Zealand every day and have done for the last 3 years. Our 22,463 members come from 187 different countries and we see a wide range of people from all around the world. I am also a migrant myself from the UK, living in New Zealand since 2000 and was asked to speak on TV One's recent report on this issue. Our impression of how these people are accepted into New Zealand society is generally a good one.  Some newcomers have a little difficulty with the Kiwi sense of humour, sometimes taking offence when none is intended, but there is a rising problem for some groups being targeted by the media. The major difficulty we find is the media in New Zealand who seem intent to present only negative stories about migrants and foreign workers. By constantly building a picture of these people as unreliable and ungrateful they have made this situation extremely difficult, especially for some racial groups. The rising number of attacks and abuse can, I believe, be squarely laid at the media's door. A good example was a story run a year ago where an impression was created that getting into New Zealand was fairly easy and asking "what else should they have to do". This is a very commonly held idea by many people who have no idea of what migrants have to do to get into the country and makes mainstream NZ resent newcomers. I for example, as a middle management Civil Servant with 15 staff, had to study at night-school for three years to get enough points. Many times I have written to reporters and spoken to interviewers only to have a negative view preferred over a positive one.
Our organisation works in providing free services helping newcomers both before they step onto a plane and afterwards to raise the rate of successful settlement. We actively assist people to integrate into New Zealand lifestyle and culture and have had great results. Whenever I explain what we do and why to New Zealanders they think it's great. If this kind of story: how hard migrants work, how useful they are and how much they appreciate living in New Zealand I believe the abuse and attacks would reduce significantly with greater understanding.
Mike, move2nz.com

I encounter racism where ever I go, I am (being  politically correct of course) European New Zealander,  although does it really matter whether I'm European, Maori,  Pacific Islander, American or Indian? i was born and  raised in New Zealand I am a New Zealander not European or  what ever. I see adverts on the tv all the time for Maori schools, imagine the uproar if they were to make a  European only school! We are all human so everybody should chill out and stop thinking they are so hard done by. Who was it not long ago that made the "attack" "cheeky darky"? and what!! get over it! If somebody made a comment "cheeky whitey" then nobody would even bat an eyelid!
Megan Scot

I guess it will take a very long time for NZ to be racially tolerant. People just don't understand that the immigrants are here to help them fill the shortage skills in almost "all" the aspects. A very bizarre thing is that people who come from South Africa, Germany, Scotland seems to fit right in and call themselves "kiwis" and hard to accept an Asian or indian who gives the same input, pays the same tax, contribute the same, who is a CITIZEN of this country, lives the life of a stranger. Racism, discrimination and intimidation at workplace, social get-together, pubs, out in public... you name it. I personally have been racially discriminated countless times. I guess if you take a survey of only migrants and ask them this question, I guess 2 out of 3 people would say the same.
Syed

The statement in your article "This year one woman was spat on and another had her head scarf snatched" gives the impression that these occurrences are not common.  I am from New Zealand and live in Christchurch with my Asian partner. My partner experiences racism on a weekly basis, she is often told to go back to where she came from, is ridiculed for the way she speaks English and has a hard time getting work, even though she has a university degree, is highly intelligent and a hard worker.  I have been to her home county many times (Thailand) and have never been treated there the way she gets treated here. My feeling is that first of all, Christchurch is essentially still a small country town and people feel quite threatened by outsiders. Second of all people (especially young people) have life so easy here that they have nothing better to do than cause trouble, this includes racist attacks be it physical or verbal.
Deng

Get out there and ask the people in their own environment what they think of New Zealand's racial and religious diversity and you will find that people are disappointed that the governments of the country are not listening to them. Most New Zealanders would rather it not be like it is now and instead make it the same for everyone not just for the minority native people.
J Campbell

One of the wonderful things about living in this wonderful country is the diversity of the people. Each racial group has added to our unique kiwi culture. For those unfortunate souls who still struggle with the fact that Aotearoa is not a little Britain, and for those that spout the wonderfully racist line "why can't we all just be kiwis" (which really means "why can't we all be kiwis like me?") it is time to wake up. My connection to this country comes from multiple points of entry, I am Maori and 5th generation NZ Pakeha, I am a kiwi and extremely proud. So what differentiates me from a new immigrant? Well one significant thing, I am a kiwi by luck, they are kiwis by choice, surely their choice is worth celebrating and respecting just as much, if not more, than my luck. Nau mai haere mai ki te whanau a Aotearoa.
Bobby Bryan

As a 'new' New Zealander I was absolutely horrified by the amount of racism I encountered when I first came here. None of it was directed at me personally but at my partner (who is third generation American Chinese). Most of the racist comments I've heard have been directed at people of Asian origin. I still recoil in horror when I think of an old man on a bus in Christchurch bemoaning the 'Asian invasion' of NZ.
Catherine

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