The Challenge for Maori

I watched most of the item on 60 Minutes last night entitled “A Maori Challenge”. Looking at the terrible rates of crime amongst young Maori, it broke the myths that:

- Maori are committing crimes because they are poor.

The ratios of poverty:population in Maori and Pakeha were actually inverted. Pakeha have a much higher percentage of people below the poverty line than Maori, yet Maori have a far higher crime rate. I was shocked to learn these figures.

- Pacific Islanders commit a similar rate of crime as Maori.

Maori have a far higher crime rate than Pacific Islanders.

- If Maori become educated in the Pakeha system, they will lose their empowerment.

The opposite is in fact true! If Maori become better educated, they will regain their voice and increase their authority.

The woman who spoke about Maori and education was brilliant. The young criminals they talked to looked like they had lost all mental capacity, and merely looked to music videos and their mates for guidance on how to be cool and acceptable. One young man said that when he was committing crimes, it did not even seem criminal. He was just doing what these influences directed.

There are a few main negative influences on the lives of young Maori, promoting physical aggression. One is a culture called “staunch”, which encourages tough, even violent behaviour in the home and in society. Vulnerability and kindness are dirty words. These young people are proud to be “staunch”.

The second is modern hip hop music videos, known as “gangsta rap”. These modern day gangstas are aspirational figures to these young minds – driving around in expensive modified cars, scantily clad women at their sides, a gun in their hand and jewels on their fingers. The message is negative, but it does not stop these “artists” from being a powerful kind of role model for their audience. They have power, wealth, women and apparently a great lifestyle, and the thinking is that the only way urban Maori can achieve that lifestyle is to cheat, steal and maim…. all in the name of impressing their mates and achieving some kind of backwards self esteem.

The final and probably most perplexing influence is at the core of modern Maori culture. The traditional war haka is the key element of cultural expression for Maori in our time. Originally intended to intimidate the opposition in a real warring situation, it is now used for everything from sporting matches to welcome ceremonies. It promotes violence for no reason, and is but a small part of a richer culture. The 60 Minutes piece showed a dance troupe practising a new kind of dance-haka which used traditional movements in a non-intimidating way. That would certainly be a healthier outlet. It seems a shame to focus on the one element of the culture which promotes violence.

While the programme offered no more suggestions for how to help the situation, even just increasing awareness of these facts and factors must help. It seems that a fundamental mind shift must take place in the Maori community if the situation is going to change.