Manawatu¯ teen’s message resonates
Singing the 1969 classic Melting Pot to point out outdated language and ideas on race helped Manukura student Tui-aroha Fransenwin the Race Unity Speech Award for insight.
The Race Unity Speech Award finals were in Auckland at the weekend, with year 13 student Fransen attending as the Manawatu¯ winner. The event was organised by the New Zealand Baha’i community.
Fransen spoke about her Dutch grandfather Bill who fulfilled his dream of moving to the land of milk and honey, and then immersed himself in the world of her Nga¯i Tahu grandmother’s community.
‘‘While I never got to meet him, I amtold by many that he was a hard worker and made the best hangi in Motueka,’’ Fransen said. ‘‘This simple example of embracing other cultures gives me hope for the future.’’
Baha’i community spokesperson Huti Watson said Fransen’s speech gave an insight into what unity in diversity really looked like. ‘‘It looks like making space for difference, for people to hold multiple identities, to be unique even as we share a common identity as members of a single human family.’’
This year’s theme ‘‘kia kotahi te hoe – paddle as one’’ reflected that everyone had a role to play in eradicating racism and building unity.
‘‘We may look different based on what part of the world our ancestors came from, but we should never imagine ourselves to be superior because of our inherited physical appearance, language or culture,’’ Watson said.
‘‘It is also importantwe always respect Ma¯ori as tangata whenua and the unique status they have under Te Tiriti owaitangi.’’
Chief judge and New Zealand Police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha said young people wanted to see change through respect and diversity.
‘‘If people understand diversity, then they understand what unity means. There is now more understanding of the hopes and the aspirations of young people.
‘‘I am totally inspired by what I’ve heard over the years.
‘‘It gives me confidence that our country is in good hands.’’