September 02, 2014
Thirty year struggle for resources
Waipareira chief executive John Tamihere says the same calls for a fair share of the state’s resources that characterised the 1984 Hui Taumata continue to be made by Maori today.
Mr Tamihere spoke yesterday to Te Pae Roa 2040 at Massey University’s Albany campus, which is looking back at the past 30 years of Maori development and trying to chart a path ahead.
The former Maori Affairs lawyer and district manager says New Zealand had corralled Maori into unskilled work or at best trades, which means they were hard hit by the shrinking of the state sector under Rogernomics.
He says the state sector continues to dominate the Maori economy, which is why Maori are pressing for more say in health, welfare, education, justice and housing.
" We cannot merely see these industries through the eyes of a client, a patient, a prisoner, a failure or a dole recipient. We must aggressively assert our rights to the transfers of resources into our own hands " he says.
John Tamihere says while Maori have come up with innovative responses like Tu Tangata, Maatua Whangai or Whanau Ora, the mainstream comes up with ways to assimilate them.
Te Pae Roa 2040 ends today.
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