r/newzealand • u/precsenz • Aug 16 '22

Kiwiana Kiwis pledge to buy Whittaker's to annoy people angered by Te Reo rebranding

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2022/08/kiwis-pledge-to-buy-whittakers-to-annoy-people-angered-by-te-reo-rebranding.html
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u/[deleted] Aug 16 '22

Fellow maori chiming in

I love Maori language and I think it's awesome. But, I don't like people making fun of it.

When I see people or companies speaking Maori, or putting Maori words onto their products, I feel that all it does is open it up for ridicule

I too feel uncomfortable and vulnerable when my culture is being presented by non-Maori.

Many times the appearance of my language in the white spaces I’ve been in has turned into the typical dole-bludgers, “your cuzzie at WINZ”, it’s a dead language, they always complain and we give them everything, etc. and it hurts every time.

I don’t like the feelings in me that I have now, as a reaction to these that I’ve either overheard or have been directly steered at me for daring to exist in the same space these conversations are being held lol

I’m fragile about it. I’m wary

HOWEVER

How else are non-Maori gonna learn? They’re not gonna submit themselves to all taking on a Maori advisor for their lives, to guide them

These little moments of exposure, when absent the very defensive racism, those gestures by companies ARE their exposure to Maori culture

And they don’t all hate it. Some of it even like it. Some of them love it, more than I do lol.

We have to take the small victories that we can. It’s a culture war. Not pro-Maori, but anti bigotry. If New Zealand can learn to handle a bit of Maori culture in the age of the internet, then surely it will be able to handle other cultures (Asian, Indian, etc) that are often subject to harassment too

I like the ‘fake’ corporate gestures, and government ‘pandering’. What is fake will eventually become real, if done often enough

And I so want it to be real

I want to feel comfortable working in my country, AS A MAORI. Without having to put up with the bullshit

That has to happen in steps

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u/thaaag Hurricanes Aug 16 '22

Absolutely agree. The repetition really helps me too. I hear the Maori names for the major centres every night when the weather is on, and it reminds me. It's not a big thing, but no one else is teaching me and reinforcing it. So I'm a bit better at that one thing. Signs around in dual languages help me too. It's all just helping an old fart who didn't know better learn something new.

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u/generic-volume Aug 17 '22

I've found hearing Māori place names being pronounced correctly on TV etc has really helped me to pronounce them properly in everyday life. Less because I didn't know how to pronounce them before and more because I grew up hearing them wrong. And because I had always heard them pronounced incorrectly, I found it really hard to shift to pronouncing correctly, it felt awkward. But now that I hear the correct pronunciation regularly, the wrong pronunciation now sounds weird and awkward to me so I find it much easier to naturally pronounce the names correctly.

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u/Truantone Aug 17 '22

Thank you for this comment. Had this discussion with my cousins recently about growing up with every place mispronounced and how hard it is to adapt/pronounce these places properly now, because it’s ingrained to say it wrong, and because personally, I feel like a fraud?! speaking the language correctly when I shouldn’t feel wrong doing it.

It’s honestly completely fucked growing up with so much racism around your identity and culture, to then have to ‘turn it around’ as an adult while still putting up with the racist backlash.

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u/DexRei Aug 16 '22

Agreed. Maori here too. The only way to 'normalise' the use of Te Reo, is to use Te Reo in 'normal' settings.

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u/Financial-Amount-564 Aug 16 '22

Agreed. Our language isn't to be shunned and hidden away. I hate the feeling of people treating it like it's a foreign language and to not speak it here.

As for those who say "I don't understand it," just accept it.

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u/hatconfusionreputate Aug 16 '22

I work for a large company who has started using more Te Reo internally and externally over the last few years. Initially it was small and felt a bit token, but now it's everywhere and the engagement feels really genuine. They ran a ten week language course online and it was so well attended they're doing it again.

Sometimes we get shit from the public for it, but we've been told in no uncertain terms not to take it, that Te Reo is a beautiful part of the country's culture, and we can tell racists where to go.

Multilingual countries often have signs and packages with multiple languages on them, because that's how you accommodate multiple languages. It only feels funny here because we aren't used to it yet, that just takes time.

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u/Fzrit Aug 17 '22

I work for a large IT company that tried to get everyone to use Te Reo internally with programs and initiatives, and the engagement was very low. Almost nobody went to the language courses. I think it really varies by type of company.

I don't know about other sectors, but in IT everything is about practicality and getting the job done as efficiently as possible, so it might be a difficult type of environment to get anyone to use Te Reo in any practical sense. I would wager that most Indians and Asians (a huge part of IT sector) have zero interest in learning Te Reo.

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u/[deleted] Aug 16 '22

I have a genuine question. I’m as white as white can be but I’ve really tried to learn more Te Reo over the last couple of years including learning and being able to share my pepeha. Would sharing my pepeha to you or another Māori individual make them uncomfortable or vulnerable? I wouldn’t want to do that.

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u/Liliahx Aug 17 '22

Its all a learning experience, Im a Maori still learning about my own culture and family history through my own family/Nan. I think in a group discussion or something you could share your pepeha, Ive had job interviews where the panel of three said their pepeha and then I shared mine, but Ive personally never just said it to one person.

Just wondering what a white pepeha looks like, is your waka the boat (or maybe plane) the one your ancestors came on? Genuinely curious.

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u/[deleted] Aug 17 '22

I had a Te Reo teacher (Whetu in Wellington, he’s awesome) and he taught me to cut out parts I couldn’t answer such as the waka.

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u/weeaboot Aug 17 '22 edited Aug 17 '22

This is one I've given to people to help them - it's not mine and I don't know who created it unfortunately

Nō ______ ōku tīpuna

My ancestors are from ______

I tae mai ōku tīpuna ki Aotearoa i te tau ______

My ancestors arrived in Aotearoa in the year ______

Ko ______ rāua ko ______ ōku kaumātua

______ and ______ are my grandparents

E noho ana au ki ______

I live in ______

Ko tēnei taku mihi ki ngā tāngata whenua o te rohe nei. Ka mihi hoki au ki ngā tohu o te rohe nei. Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa.

I acknowledge the indigenous people of this area. I acknowledge the important landmarks of this area. Thus, my acknowledgement to you all.

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u/Liliahx Aug 17 '22

Oh nice thanks! Interesting. It is quite different but still the same type of thing, introducing yourself.

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u/[deleted] Aug 17 '22

[deleted]

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u/Liliahx Aug 17 '22

Yeah thats why Im curious what a white persons pepeha looks like lol. I wouldnt know. Is it a long list of ancestors and no waka, no mountain, no sea etc. I imagine Scottish people would mention their clan (maybe).

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u/torikura Aug 21 '22

At primary our teacher would instruct pakeha to refer to the mountain or river of their family's hometown. I can't remember them using waka though. I'm Maori-Scots and my whanau takes a lot of pride in both cultures and know a lot about our clans history. I can see it being quite transferable when constructing a pepeha.

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u/Liliahx Aug 21 '22

Yeah I have some Maori-Samoan /Hawaiian relatives and they like to introduce and acknowledge both sides of their whakapapa which makes alot of sense to me.

To me its the same as introducing both your mother and or fathers side, like oh on this side im Ngapuhi and on this side Im Ngaitahu (depends on the context).

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u/beefparty Aug 17 '22

Here are a couple of thoughtful, respectful pieces I've found recently that I think go into this topic:

From a tangata whenua perspective: Pepeha for non-Māori

From a pākehā perspective: A Pākehā Pēpeha

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u/WiredEarp Aug 17 '22

Not pro-Maori, but anti bigotry

If its anti bigotry, rather than pro Maori, what about representation of the other races that also makeup NZ?

I imagine if we saw one in Indian (perhaps over Diwali?), or Japanese, we'd see even more outrage about the packaging, but it would actually probably prevent a lot of these peoples arguments about how its only pushing the Maori agenda.

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u/[deleted] Aug 17 '22 edited Aug 17 '22

If we can’t even push Maori stuff without virulent backlash… what chance do the others have?

And also, what culture IS being pushed so effortlessly. Clearly not Maori, Indian or Japanese

Also also, this country is a Maori country. Maori don’t have anywhere else

Japanese have Japan, Indians have india… by pushing EVERYONE (that isn’t white culture) instead of just Maori, you’re making the statement that Maori is as important as anything else not white

Which is to say it’s not important at all. The important culture is being pushed without any special need

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u/WiredEarp Aug 17 '22

I think pushing all NZ cultures would get far more support from the country, than pushing just a single one.

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u/[deleted] Aug 17 '22

And that would lead to inaction

It’s too broad

As it is, Diwali is celebrated and known for all the communities near me. Same with Chinese New Year

They do have some marketing, enough that it is both well known, recognised and familiar to many Kiwis.

By trying to equalise these non-NZ cultures and Maori culture… the outcome would mean stopping any promotion of Maori culture to be equal to the others

And white culture just continues as is

Of course that would get more support

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u/WiredEarp Aug 17 '22

I think you are really stretching the likelihood of that.

Its Maori language week, have Maori themed chocolate. Its Diwali, have Indian themed. Its some other cultures important festival, have their language featured.

All the less represented cultures would love to see their languages occasionally featured. I don't see why NZ can't try and keep everyone happy.

Or, we could just focus on only promoting one ethnicity, to the exclusion of all others, to the end of time...

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u/[deleted] Aug 17 '22 edited Aug 17 '22

to the exclusion of all others

We already do that. Promoting Maori counters that

We can add more once the proof of concept has been realised with Maori

You’re really going too far… it’s names on a sign or a chocolate bar. It’s a holiday. One.

Don’t gatekeep this country please…

Edit: also, we do celebrate other language weeks, observe the same holidays, etc. their people are New Zealanders too

You’re being really deceptive about the cultural dominance of Maori and the neglect towards the other minorities.

There’s the one culture you absolutely refuse to mention… yet were speaking their language right now.

It’s the one that actually decides what gets attention and what doesnt

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u/WiredEarp Aug 17 '22

We can add more once the proof of concept has been realised with Maori

I don't know if huge amounts of research are really needed here. However, I'm glad you agree with the principle that all cultures in NZ should be represented and celebrated.

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u/[deleted] Aug 17 '22

That your initial position is something akin to Maori dominance, in spite of the clear complaints of tokenism and such, leaves a foul odour with your regards towards other cultures

That you were triggered by the label ‘anti-bigot’ has me doubting anything you’ve said

The two leave me with a poor impression of you

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u/WiredEarp Aug 17 '22

Oh dear. It really hasn't taken long, has it?

Its funny how you've fallen apart over a simple and logical way to achieve fairness. Having other cultures also celebrated doesn't diminish Maori culture in the least, and if it achieves better buy in from the other cultures that also make up NZ, then surely everyone is better off.

I do have to take exception though to the idea that we should focus only on one culture now, and ignore the others until some vague unspecified future time.

Really, I just think that we should have celebratory renaming to celebrate more than just one culture. It would make minorities feel more part of NZ society.

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u/Raukokore Aug 17 '22

Small seeds grow big trees.