“What does it mean to YOU, mate, to be a Kiwi?” (Feb. 6, 2014)

6 February 2014 at 9:32 am

“What does it mean to YOU, mate, to be a Kiwi?”
Thoughtful commentary from thoughtful commentators
The Paul Henry Show, TV3, Wednesday 5 February 2014
Breakfast, Television ONE, Thursday 6 February 2014

On TV3’s Paul Henry Show last night, Waitangi Day preparations provided the perfect chance for the host to express his disdain for Māori people and Māori culture. First of all he unwittingly, but appropriately, channeled Stalin and sneered at the protestors as “wreckers and haters”, and endorsed Winston Peters’ harebrained call for them to be banned.

Late in the programme, after an advertising break, he threw to Jesse Peach, who was daringly alone in a room full of Māori kids. The Māori kids were in a circle, singing and dancing on the spot. This failed to charm the host….

PAUL HENRY: [sardonic, irritated expression] What are they DOING?
JESSE PEACH: I’ll ask them a question. …[He walks into the group of kids]… Hey guys, I’d like to ask you: what does Waitangi Day mean to you? [He thrusts his microphone in front of a startled little girl, aged about eight years old.]
LITTLE GIRL: Ummm. ….[giggles]….I dunno….

Back in the studio, the host is not impressed….

PAUL HENRY: [frowns] That’s not a very good start. …..[frowns again]….

Over on Television One this morning, the contempt for Māori was missing, but the quality of the dialogue was as dreadful as we have come to expect…..

RAWDON CHRISTIE: What does it mean to YOU, mate, to be a Kiwi? What’s the ONE thing?
SAM WALLACE: [Long pause, and baffled look] That’s a GOOD QUESTION. ….[baffled expression continues]….Hmmmmm…. The summer. And Māori culture. It’s something that makes us unique.

…Long, thoughtful pause…..

RAWDON CHRISTIE: I asked my three kids the same question. The first one said this is a place where racism is wrong. The second one said New Zealand is a place where you can say what you like. And the third one, the six year old, said New Zealand is a place where there’s not much danger.
NADINE CHALMERS-ROSS: [to camera] So tell us, what does being a Kiwi mean to YOU? Some of the people get a bit fed up with all the politics on the day, but what does being a Kiwi mean to YOU?
RAWDON CHRISTIE: Good question!

At this point, I could take no more….

• North6.1

  6 February 2014 at 9:46 pm

  Morrissey I chuckle deep at the picture of you resolving you could take no more.

  I know how you feel. Seeing and hearing His Effeteness who strictly is entitled to call himself PM and looking at the carpetbaggers of the Iwi Leaders Forum all gladhanding His Effeteness I felt very much the same.

  That’s why I didn’t leap in the car and travel the 19 kilometres from my place to Waitangi today. There’s a rotten stench over there today. I’ll go and see my Haruru/Waitangi whanaunga on the weekend.
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