Is TV reinforcing bad stereotypes of Ma¯ ori men?
Kiwi series on Ma¯ ori gang and drugs spurs reaction
Vegas treats life in the gangs as a
collision of circumstances
for our characters, not as preordained
destiny. Michael Bennett, writer
The controversial TVNZ drama Vegas has just finished its six-episode run. Since its debut, the story of a fictitious Ma¯ ori gang embroiled in a botched drug deal experienced a big online backlash from viewers and
Ma¯ ori media critics.
They asserted that the
Ma¯ ori-in-gangs narrative continued to reinforce the damaging stereotype of Ma¯ ori men as hyper-masculine, criminal and violent.
Filmed in Rotorua, Vegas
received more than $5 million from NZ On Air and some questioned why public funding should be used to continue to portray Ma¯ ori in a negative light.
One outspoken critic even blamed the programme for the recent racist rant by former Eagle Brewing owner David Gaughan. The Canterbury businessman was forced to step down after the public outcry over his online post saying that “Ma¯ ori are the scurge [sic] of New Zealand” and that the majority of Ma¯ ori men beat their wives and should be put in jail.
“Vegas will strengthen negative Ma¯ ori stereotypes,” wrote the online critic about Gaughan’s remarks. “Our rangatahi will be exposed to unkind and untrue words by people like this.”
The backlash against the programme sparked online responses from co-creator and writer Michael Bennett and director Kiel Mcnaughton.
In defence of his work, Bennett, an award-winning screenwriter and director, wrote that he aspired for the series to be the “Sopranos in Rotorua” and that the gangster genre had produced some of the most morally layered stories in television and film history.
“Vegas treats life in the gangs as a collision of circumstances for our characters, not as preordained destiny,” Bennett wrote. “Had the coin been tossed and landed a different way, they would be business leaders or viticulturists or poets or lawyers.”
There’s been a mixed response among my wha¯ nau and friends when I’ve asked them about the series. Some despise the constant screen portrayal of Ma¯ ori as gang members and drug dealers, while others are enjoying it purely for its entertainment value. “What’s all the fuss about? It’s just a TV show,” one of my mates told me.
As a gay Ma¯ ori male, whenever I watch the portrayal of Ma¯ ori men as warriors or gang members, I never see myself reflected on the screen. It’s a missed opportunity for content creators to acknowledge that our Ma¯ ori world is diverse and we have compelling stories to tell in many different facets of life and experiences.
I grew up with wha¯ nau members who belonged to gangs and the reason I moved to Auckland 25 years ago was to work on the gang film What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, the sequel to Once Were Warriors.
My role was to help make and sew all the gang patches.
As with many Ma¯ ori, I have seen the impact gang life has had on our loved ones and know that the issues they face are much more complex than what is normally portrayed on screen.
Believe it or not, some are committed fathers and husbands who are conflicted with their dual responsibilities. Others mature and grow out of gang life and leave to focus on their families and the community.
The debate about Vegas has forced a discussion about how we choose to portray Ma¯ ori in film and TV. It’s a debate we’ve been having since Once Were Warriors was released in 1994. These discussions are important and a positive step forward. It forces funders and creators responsible for Ma¯ ori narratives to stop and think about the effect their choices will have on our culture.
There is a group of committed Ma¯ ori who will hold them accountable for their choices to ensure that we minimise the portrayal of century-old stereotypes, showing audiences Ma¯ ori are much more than drug dealers and gang members.
— New Zealand Listener