September 13, 2020
As a Pakeha, the negativity around Matariki saddens me
Martyn 'Bomber' Bradbury: I'm not fluent in Te Reo.
My tongue is too leaden for the beauty of it. I mangle english with enough repetition to know that any attempt at communication outside my primary language will be an insult to that culture.
My beloved daughter however has been in a Māori immersion school since she started and her fluency in Te Reo brings joy to me and makes me feel more like a New Zealander than any other single thing.
That is why listening to the negativity around making Matariki a Public Holiday was so deeply saddening.
This isn't an economic issue, this isn't a business issue, it's a New Zealand issue.
I won't point out that we have less public holidays than comparable countries and I won't point out that extended weekends benefit the economy because it's wrong to defend this gift on either of those grounds.
To celebrate the beauty of Matariki for all is a means for us to grow culturally, spiritually and collectively at a time when those bonds of solidarity are more essential than ever before.
If you can not see the treasure that celebrating Matariki is, I feel genuine pity for you.
This is a moment of real sharing and cultural entwinement without the appropriation.
We will be a stronger, better people for this public holiday.
Martyn Bradbury
Editor – TheDailyBlog.nz
Radio Waatea and it's board would like to advise that the opinions posted are those of Martyn 'Bomber Bradbury' and not the views of Radio Waatea, it's Management or it's Board.
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