18 Feb '09 19:28>
The indigenous Maori ppl in NZ have tribal rites and identities protected in law. The NZ Legal system recognises Maori as the indigenous people and demands consultation and partnership in everything. It's the only correct and right way.. Maori have had their own proud regiments in wartime and have long had their own sports teams which tour the world and have been well received everywhere. They share NZ with people from all over the world but because they no longer have a Nation as a ppl they are often accused of being racist when Maori teams are selected.. In sporting terms Maoridom should be recognised in sport as a nation. Unlike many tribal races they collectively have long traditions in sport to back themselves. Not accepting this is like telling the Welsh they can't play together on racial grounds - ridiculous.
The best game of the last Lions tour of NZ was the Maori Lions game in Hamilton.. I was there to watch the NZ Maori defeat "The British and Irish Lions" for the first time. I'm English by birth but was a proud kiwi that night and was even more proud of our NZ Maori kinship that night.
Does the issue raise questions at Olympic time? Why is Britain one country for one event and separate countries for others? Doesn't a country have to have exclusive sovereignty?
(Story from NZ City News)
" The Springboks' planned British and Irish Lions warm-up against the New Zealand Maori is likely to be snubbed by South African Rugby because of the racial composition of the squad.
The South African Rugby Union has confirmed it has had an approach from the NZRU for the Maori to play a game in the Republic in June. But SARU has issued a statement saying the biggest stumbling block is the long established President?s Council resolution forbidding the appearance of SARU teams against opponents selected on racial lines.
It is ironic considering South Africa's apartheid past and also the government's insistence on the set number of non-white players required for the Springbok team. "
It does appear that SA will make an exception.. it annoys me that they presume to have that right.
Look at this in terms of your own nationhood: To be Maori (as opposed to English or any other ppl) you have to know which tribe you come from and most know which canoe their family arrived in NZ that means basically knowing your ancestry (Whakapapa) for 24-27 generations back to 1300ad) Maybe we should apply something like this to sport or nationhood, could we all have passports issued according to our ancestry and look at citizenship separately?
NZ is a partnership of Maori who came in 1300-1400 and those who came later. I believe the answer is to acknowledge Maori as a unique nation - identity and Whakapapa is everything to them and they deserve the acknowledgement.
The best game of the last Lions tour of NZ was the Maori Lions game in Hamilton.. I was there to watch the NZ Maori defeat "The British and Irish Lions" for the first time. I'm English by birth but was a proud kiwi that night and was even more proud of our NZ Maori kinship that night.
Does the issue raise questions at Olympic time? Why is Britain one country for one event and separate countries for others? Doesn't a country have to have exclusive sovereignty?
(Story from NZ City News)
" The Springboks' planned British and Irish Lions warm-up against the New Zealand Maori is likely to be snubbed by South African Rugby because of the racial composition of the squad.
The South African Rugby Union has confirmed it has had an approach from the NZRU for the Maori to play a game in the Republic in June. But SARU has issued a statement saying the biggest stumbling block is the long established President?s Council resolution forbidding the appearance of SARU teams against opponents selected on racial lines.
It is ironic considering South Africa's apartheid past and also the government's insistence on the set number of non-white players required for the Springbok team. "
It does appear that SA will make an exception.. it annoys me that they presume to have that right.
Look at this in terms of your own nationhood: To be Maori (as opposed to English or any other ppl) you have to know which tribe you come from and most know which canoe their family arrived in NZ that means basically knowing your ancestry (Whakapapa) for 24-27 generations back to 1300ad) Maybe we should apply something like this to sport or nationhood, could we all have passports issued according to our ancestry and look at citizenship separately?
NZ is a partnership of Maori who came in 1300-1400 and those who came later. I believe the answer is to acknowledge Maori as a unique nation - identity and Whakapapa is everything to them and they deserve the acknowledgement.