October 04, 2015
Maori Women Leadership Support Chris Brown
Maori Women Leadership Support Chris Brown
WILLIE JACKSON
I was extremely proud last week when some of Maoridoms top women leaders came out in a press conference held at my Marae Nga Whare Waatea to express their support for the singer Chris Brown.
They said let the American superstar come to New Zealand because the message he carries that domestic violence is unacceptable will impact and resonate more with our youth than some random million dollar TV campaign.
Brown’s messages and where he has gone wrong is an ideal way to make an impact – especially on our youth, who listen to his music.
The under-fire singer – who could be blocked from entering New Zealand following a 2009 conviction for assaulting his then girlfriend Rihanna has gained high powered support from former Maori party leader Dame Tariana Turia, National Kohanga Reo boss Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, Dame June Mariu, Lady Tureiti Moxon, Dame June Jackson and former head of Women’s Refuge and now chair of the North Island Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency Te Pou Matakana, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait.
Brown’s assault on Rhianna six years ago was played out in the world headlines and impacted Brown’s credibility big time. Has he reformed since then and gone down a road of redemption? Well, that’s up for debate. He did though serve his time for the shocking beating that he gave his ex-girlfriend, she has forgiven him, he has said it was the biggest mistake of his life and recently he has been given joint custody of his daughter. He has sadly since the beating been in trouble with the law but has never transgressed again in terms of domestic violence.
Our women leadership have said we cannot ever close the door on those who make mistakes and we all have to learn from our past. Mainstream media were shocked that women of such mana could come out in support of a person like Brown. But each of them have worked at the coalface with our people and believe in forgiveness and redemption, Dame Tariana said the state has thrown millions at domestic violence and nothing has changed.
Unlike former Cabinet Minister Judith Collins who said we have enough women beaters in this country and said Brown should just" bugger off", our leaders want Brown here. They know that people like Collins have had their shot at curbing the violence, failed as most do in parliament when trying to confront the problem but then just move on and go to their next portfolio or speaking role. But for people like our Maori women leaders who have made such a courageous stand, this problem is something they grapple with every day.
Unfortunately Maori as has been so often said lead all the worst negative statistics in our society and domestic violence is one of them. So sometimes we need different strategies to combat this and bringing Chris Brown to our Marae to talk to young people about where he went wrong in his life could help a little bit in our attempt to change things. I salute our Maori women leadership for their stand.
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