MAORI RAP

James wanted to stay at a "nice" hotel on our final night in New Zealand. This produced lukewarm results. For the money paid, we got disappointingly little in return, especially in contrast to the cheap backpackers we stayed in that were chock full of value. And this hotel wasn't even remotely luxurious. Copthorne Hotel? Don't bother. Remember the first hotel we stayed in, the Camelot Hotel? Waaay better, and MUCH CHEAPER.

On Sunday morning, we had time to waste. So I turned on the tv and found a channel that was showing several consecutive hours of programs in Maori. It was all kid programs, probably aimed to reinforce the Maori they're learning at school. I watched one fun show after another.

I also flipped around and saw a series dedicated to showcasing Asian New Zealand culture. New Zealand has recently been on the receiving end of a huge influx of Asian immigrants. The program visited a Chinatown in either Auckland or Wellington and showed the little Chinese Kiwis doing a traditional Chinese dance. The children talked about pride in their heritage and striving to maintain a balance between being both Chinese and New Zealanders. It was bizarre to hear perfect New Zealand accents coming out of these little Chinese mouths. I mean, I'm used to hearing American accents out of Asians (let alone Asian accents out of Asians). Also, I spotted the following name in the credits of the program: Bronwyn Chang. That is so rad.

Anyway, even on television, New Zealand's open, friendly society impressed me. Every year this minuscule country is being hit with the burden of hundreds of thousands of immigrants from just one region alone (namely Asia), yet it takes the high road by educating the public -- as well as embracing its new citizens -- with shows like these. New Zealand makes the effort to unveil the mysteries of immigrant cultures, so others will understand and see them as human beings, instead of doing nothing and allowing cultural issues to fester and multiply into a nightmare. By taking such a proactive and inclusive stance on immigration and multiculturalism, New Zealand is helping to further the truth that it is one of the best, most thoroughly enlightened societies in the world.***

On a lighter note, I present two pictures taken through our hotel peep hole, followed by eight pictures of our television screen that had a Maori rap video on. Note the severely eighties-style clothing (if you can even call it that).


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***After I wrote this brief commentary, I got nervous and did some online research to see if I ought to make adjustments. What I'd written was based purely on television programs and commercials I'd seen in the span of a few hours on a Sunday morning, supplemented by two weeks' worth of interactions with white and Maori (i.e., non-recent immigrant) New Zealanders. Also, I was taking a pretty strong stance, forming a particular opinion for which I had little empirical proof. The last thing I wanted was to reveal myself as a wishful and sentimental liberal (har har). But I still felt I had some ground to stand on, because for one thing, I saw a tv commercial that was specifically reaching out towards Asian immigrants. This is something I'd never seen in the United States, so at least in comparison with the U.S., New Zealand's tv media are way ahead of the game. Lastly, I didn't mean to insist New Zealand is socially perfect so much as I was appreciating that it's clearly making the effort to be so.

Anyhow, I found a website that had an article about immigration in New Zealand, and to my utter surprise and delight, the author supports much of what I'd observed. After outlining some of the complexities of the history of immigration in New Zealand, the author then summarizes the contemporary issues, reiterating my thoughts almost exactly. I'm still not asserting that my casual observations of New Zealand society are accurate, but I'm gratified to discover that at least one other person out there, presumably an expert who also cites several bibliographic sources, not only agrees with me but makes statements that are uncannily similar to mine. (See quotation below.)

And if you'll humor me some more, I'd like to include a few quotes just to send the point home for those who choose not to read the entire article, New Zealand: The Politicization of Immigration, by Richard Belford (January 2003):

Notwithstanding this ambivalence, there seems to be clear recognition and acceptance that New Zealand society is going to become more diverse in terms of ethnic and cultural groups over the next 20 years. Immigration will play a major part in this diversification of communities, especially immigration from countries in Asia. Fortunately, there seems to be a broad consensus among the main political parties as well as many of the minor ones that this is not something to be feared or resisted at all costs. In this regard, there appears to be some consensus of party view (excluding the position adopted by New Zealand First) that continued immigration at or above present levels will produce positive outcomes for the country's economy and society.

...What is perhaps significant about the current discourse is a genuine concern among some politicians, journalists, and academics to ensure that the public is better informed about international migration in New Zealand before the immigration debate becomes dominated by a destructive, xenophobic rhetoric.

Damn, I'm good.