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Margaret Mutu says she cannot be racist

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Wed, 07 Sep 2011 4:52p.m.

Margaret Mutu is head of Maori studies at Auckland University

Margaret Mutu is head of Maori studies at Auckland University

Auckland University academic Margaret Mutu has defended her comments on white immigration, saying she cannot be racist as Maori are not in a position of power.

Ms Mutu said the number of white immigrants coming to New Zealand should be limited because they, perhaps unwittingly, brought with them attitudes of “white supremacy”, which held back Maori.

She made the comments in response to a survey which showed Maori had higher negative attitudes towards immigrants in New Zealand than other ethnic groups.

On RadioLIVE today she said:

"Racism is definitely associated with power and using power to deprive another group," she said.

"Maori are not in a position of power in this country and therefore cannot deprive Pakeha."

Ms Mutu said she was looking to highlight the fact that racism is alive and well in New Zealand.

"I'm actually highlighting the fact racism exists in this country and it is a matter that this country needs to address, to debate, to identify what racism actually looks like, then talk about how we are going to fix it up," she said.

Ms Mutu was defended by some on RadioLIVE with some people saying the believed Maori were not given enough enough say on immigration laws.

Race Relations Commissioner Joris De Bres does not agree the definition of racism is dependent on the person being racist holding a position of power.

"Racial prejudice is the same whether it come from a Maori or Pakeha,” he said earlier.

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Comments

23 May 2012 05:21p.m.

Lizzie Cook wrote:

Margaret Mutu was not talking about racial prejudice. She was referring to Institutional racism. Maori do not have self-determination over their own affairs. Until they do, they are subject to racism.

07 Feb 2012 06:19p.m.

Axel wrote:

ALL HAIL! Queen of the Gorse! Margaret Mutu is the single greatest terror threat to the interior of New Zealand. She is infecting the minds of Maori youth from her pulpit at the University with her divisive doctrines. She seeks personal gain, in the form of prestige and power, at the expense of peace and stability. She is a deplorable example of how one can receive degrees and yet be wholly uneducated. She uses her knowledge in a manner which manipulates her likewise uneducated subjects and awakens a savage mentality within them to further her own black supremacist agenda. For the public safety, I feel that knocking Margaret Mutu off the throne she has erected for herself should be the utmost priority for every Kiwi interested in the future peace and stability of Aotearoa.

08 Oct 2011 11:35a.m.

TDog wrote:

Steve what statistics are you reading? Since the injection of the great "whitey" into Maoridom there has been an upsurge in murder, rape, robbery etc. It has been an aboslute disaster. Tell me why in the days of full blooded Maori's they weren't at the bottom of every statistic or didn't feel the need to fly to Australia for a better life? And again with the cannibalism claims. That's a bit hypocritical when Europeans had been eating each other for a good thousand years, after they burnt them at the stake.

03 Oct 2011 09:13p.m.

Steve wrote:

Heaven forbid we let other races come to New Zealand and do to the Maori what they did to the true original inhabitants of New Zealand..unless of coarse they bring tomato sauce with them. The truth of the matter is that it has already been done. There are no Maoris left to protect. The governments highly sucessful "closing the gap scheme" worked a treat. Because Maori were failing as a race in every aspect of civilisation, the government simply bred them out! Job done! Thankyou very much...Your welcome... The government simply use "maoridoms" greed and stupidity against themselves. They convinced Maori that if they are to be heard, if they are to fight and if they are to succeed with their claims to dominate the universe it can only be achieved with the strength of numbers. With this, they divided New Zealand into two races, Maori and non Maori. To qualify as Maori you needed to have a bloodline of at least 1/16 Maori. This means even if you have the tiniest part of Maori in your family bloodline....you are a Maori. The follow on effect of this is a much more successful race. Lets say "the new and improved version" Less crime, less child abuse, less rapes, better educated and less welfare dependent people...once again....you're welcome! It is a shame that we don't have a 100% success rate and every now and then the simplest of breeding programs will produce a genetically retarded specimen like Margaret Mutu and Hone Harawiria not to mention a few others. But all in all the injection of "whitey" into the Maori population has been very sucessful! YOU'RE SO WELCOME!

13 Sep 2011 07:33a.m.

Andrew wrote:

Oh Gosh the happy turncoat wannabe scholar never will be. Take a reality check, Gosh who's the turncoat now lol? So much for your mohiotanga ehh! You need to keep taking your medication to stop you from being delusional, must be the prolong, perpetual psychological abuse your people suffered or it the guilt of who's your tipuna? ... Oh yeah Wahawaha now there's a turncoat for you. 'e tipu e rea ...' would you like to finish it turncoat Gosh? or do you know this one better? 'God of nation ....' kai ma te kuri!

12 Sep 2011 12:53p.m.

Jack wrote:

I am a white South African. I fled my country because of the racism and violence that was perpetrated against me. Genocide Watch recently rates white S. Africans at Level 6 (Level 7 is full scale masacres.) We are now refugees.

I have come here to be safe, but also to contribute positively. I have immediatley immersed myself and started doing volunteer work in mental health etc.

I respect Maori and Maori culture. I think the Maori culture is wonderful and beautiful.

Yet, after four years it is clear to me I am not welcome here. Where do I go now? What do I advise the rest of my family who is desperately trying to flee the racist violence of South Africa?

12 Sep 2011 11:15a.m.

Gosh wrote:

Get over yourself Andrew. Assuming a person is better equipped for a role purely because of race is racist. I suggest you stop drinking or smoking of taking whatever it is you are taking because it has clouded your mohiotanga. Miss Mutu bases her opinions of people on race, therefore she is racist. I think you will find if anyone’s days are numbered it is Miss Mutus and lapdogs like yourself.

11 Sep 2011 10:39p.m.

Andrew wrote:

Prof Mutu is the perfect candidate to deliver such a controversial discussion. If what many bloggers imply that academic scholar Ms Mutu shares both Maori and non-Maori lineage then wouldn't she be the most likely of candidates to analyse fairly all aspects of the debate? Basically if you only descend from Maori or Pakeha then obviously your views will be biased toward your own world view, right? therefore, in my view your argument doesn't count like many obviously Pakeha bloggers ignorant of Maori understanding/knowledge in this case. In simple terms Pakeha who know nothing of Maori culture are really pushing the proverbial up stream and good for you for doing that. Maori on the other hand who are fluent in both cultures have the upper hand no matter what anyone says. Good luck ignorant Pakeha but all you are doing is wasting tax money that could be better spent on educating yourselves in things Maori. Seriously foreigners have a better grasp of Maori pronunciation than you do what a shame that is!... at least I've made the effort and hoping many of you too will, then NZ will be a better place for everyone. As for you Gosh what do you mean by Turncoat? Is honesty and truth not what we as civilized Pakeha should be proud of promoting? Things like we are proud colonizers ... we enjoy destroying innocent civilizations and leaving them in dia-dispare, misery and alike. How does that make me a TurnCoat when I acknowledge my genocidal infested history? Wouldn't you as a (I believe you pose as a colonised Maori from Ngati Porou) civilian of the truth want the best for both treaty partners? Clearly that would be the objective here, right? or are you the turncoat disguised as an up righteous perverted Ningklepoop! Grow up Gosh, your days are numbered ... judgement day awaits you.

10 Sep 2011 02:00p.m.

Power of the Knife wrote:

In 1991, I was carjacked and stabbed almost to death by a black man. While he was stabbing me, he yelled "you white M... F..." at me. He didn't need any "state power" or "institutional power" to qualify as racist. All he needed was the power of his mouth and the power of his knife.

10 Sep 2011 01:36p.m.

Ernest wrote:

How convenient that 'racism' is a one way street.