Notice how PΔkehΔ people never get asked βwhat do white people think?β Because any semi-intelligent person will know that thatβs a fucked up question. So, let me start this off by stating right now that I, Nathan Rahui, DO NOT speak on behalf of all MΔori–nor does any other MΔori person.
With the angry rant over, Iβll put my flag away and letβs crunch some numbers, whΔnau!
As much as aunty Cindy has won the hearts of all New Zealanders during her term, itβs always difficult to have complete faith in the government; itβs like watching an episode of Game of Thrones and youβre sitting there going βaight, whoβs about to get their skull crushed now?β. Surprisingly, the support for MΔori is looking pretty promising this time around. It has almost doubled since last year with over $900 million going towards MΔori whΔnau, communities and tamariki.
The big winner on the day is Education with support to MΔori learners. The teaching grad in me is disheartened to know that the pay is still going to be shit, but the optimist in me is stoked to see that MΔori Education, specifically KΕhanga Reo, is finally going to get the recognition it deserves. Thereβs also $50mil going towards MΔori trades and apprenticeships which caters to our MΔori youth–which is kind of ironic because theyβre usually the ones that arenβt supported in mainstream education. But hey, itβs a step in the right direction!
As much as Simon Bridges can say the government isnβt doing enough to support child poverty, when he decides to chuck his pounamu on for the day, I think itβs pretty fair to say that aunty has done a lot more than βthat last governmentβ (cue Savage by Megan Thee Stallion). To see a huge chunk of money going towards Oranga Tamariki just goes to show that this government does believe that song from Whitney Houston, the children are the future, and definitely more important than designing a new flag for the country. But surely no party would think thatβs a gooβ¦ Oh wait.
This budget hits at a strange time though. With the announcement of level 2 bringing joy to the hearts of lonely elderly people and horny teenagers that can cash in on their swipes, it left a lot of MΔori confused. If you didnβt see anything on social media this week, then you probably need to diversify your friend list, but in the meantime, Iβll fill you in:
- Marae were very specifically mentioned as a place that police can enter to enforce the law.
- Funeral and tangihanga were only allowed 10 people to gather and mourn (yes I know this has changed, donβt @ me).
As someone who has been involved in the realm of politics (weird flex), albeit on the student level, I can understand that sometimes people slip-up, they make mistakes, and Iβd imagine even moreso when theyβve literally just tried to guide the country through a global pandemic. Most people could even say people are reading too much into it, but when instances like this continuously occur, itβs hard to put it down as an accident. So on the one hand we get back-slapped and on the next we get given a firm, sanitised handshake. If you understood my earlier reference to GOT, then youβll know whatβs good when I say, do not have a favourite character; as a MΔori, we want to cheer for the good guy so badly, but we donβt know whatβs around the fucking corner.
If you read the comments on social media, people will always have something to complain about: βitβs not enoughβ or βwhereβs the money coming from?β But these people could never run a country; they choose to find comfort in misery and let it comfort them like a fluffy blanket. Iβm choosing to remain optimistic about the direction of financial support this time, but letβs see what happens. Winter is quite literally coming.
MΔori specific highlights:
- Over $200mil for KΕhanga Reo
- $50mil for MΔori trades training
- $40mil for MΔori housing challenges
- $136mil boost to WhΔnau Ora
- Revitalisation of te reo MΔori: priceless