Iwi leader says leadership crucial in shooting aftermath
Leadership and love will be key in tackling the everyday racism present in New Zealand, Taranaki Ma¯ ori say.
In response to the Christchurch mosque shootings, which have left 50 people dead, Nga¯ti Ruanui leader Debbie NgarewaPacker said there was a link between the normalisation of racism in society and the horrific acts carried out last Friday.
The alleged gunman, 28-yearold Brenton Tarrant, has been referred to as a self-described white supremacist.
Ngarewa-Packer has previously said racism is ‘‘rife’’ in New Zealand and the indifference to it needed to change.
‘‘We all have the responsibility at the grassroots to stop it.’’
Along with calling it out, she said there needed to be a real focus on embracing difference and promoting togetherness.
‘‘We have to lead unity, we have to absolutely declare and affirm it.’’
Taranaki kauma¯tua Peter Moeahu said he was ‘‘extremely saddened’’ to hear about what happened in Christchurch.
Moeahu believed generally there was more tolerance of difference in society but there continued to be occasional glimpses of racist behaviour. ‘‘I’ve found over the years that there is an undercurrent there and it is diminishing.’’ He praised Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for the difference she was making. ‘‘We have a prime minister who is embracing of all cultures and it’s that kind of leadership that is making headway,’’ the former Treaty negotiator said.
‘‘I believe with that statement [that Ardern made] that those people who suffered are us.’’
Dennis Ngawhare called Friday’s events ‘‘evil’’.
‘‘It was a terrible, terrible act but I see people reacting with love and sympathy,’’ he said.
‘‘They should have been safe and a sacred space, a waahi tapu, was desecrated by murder.’’
Ngawhare, who is the manager of Te Wananga o Aotearoa’s Nga¯ motu campus, said that while hate crimes were more common overseas, New Zealand was never immune from it. ‘‘It’s that extremism that unfortunately is a blight on our world.’’