Pasifika marchers feel ignored

Email
Print

Pasifika marchers feel ignored

3News NZ

There were around 700 protestors marching today from a range of different backgrounds

There were around 700 protestors marching today from a range of different backgrounds

By Adrien Taylor

Auckland's Pacific community marched through the central city today in an effort to raise the voice of Pasifika people in New Zealand.

They say those in power ignore them and make decisions that affect the Pacific community adversely.

They met at Albert Park in hundreds despite the chill.

A few warm ups later, a community that says it's oppressed by the system took to the streets.

While it was a festive atmosphere, their concerns are serious.

There were around 700 protestors marching today from a range of different backgrounds. They share one message, better education.

Organisers say today's march is about getting the Pacific community together and raising political awareness about the challenges it faces in housing, education, health, and safety.

“We're a courteous community,” says march organiser Efeso Collins. “We don't come out, we don't speak out; we just take it. I think today signals a new movement in our community where we're saying ‘not anymore’.”

Auckland has the largest Pacific population of any city in the world, and the mayor says he's doing his best to accommodate everyone's needs.

“We'll be talking about how we appropriately represent the Pacific people,” says mayor Len Brown.

But if the needs of the Pacific people are ignored, they say they'll be back making their voice heard again.

3 News

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

19/08/2012 6:51:43 a.m.

lucy wrote:

like it or not, our world is a blend of world citizens... if you separate yourself you don't make your life safer or better. Just more isolated, closed, ignorant. White NZ is an immigrant population in the majority. Pacific people have heart, soul and spirit. We all share the same mother earth wherever we were born. We are one tribe. Time to remember.

15/07/2012 11:16:53 a.m.

Anaru wrote:

He mihi tenei ki nga tangata pasifika, to tatou whanaunga o te moana nui a Kiwa, kia mau kia u ki o koutou rangatiratanga ahakoa no hea ahakoa ko wai. He Iwi ano koutou o Aotearoa nei. There's only one planet we have to share right now, and to force all people to conform to Pakeha culture is a result of Caucasian (as Phil puts it)affairs always taking center stage. I once asked a Pakeha chap (good man) what he thought Pakeha culture was, to which he had no answer. I told him to look around us, the steak house across the road, the hotel we were in. We were literally surrounded by Pakeha culture that could not be seen by this "Caucasian" gentlemen. Likewise a very real Caucasian affairs ministry exists (it used to be called government) if it did not we wouldn't need Te Puni Kokiri because Maori affairs would have already be part of NZ affairs. I dont believe in racial equality, simply because race is a social construct and not a biological reality, basing the way you treat people on a social construct particular to your own culture and society is not equal treatment, but based on the ill informed idea of the existence of race and its perceived differences. Migration is the movement of people from one area to another, so we r all migrants by the mere fact we all have legs, however using this as a lever against indigenous rights or cultural awareness is throwing the baby out with the bath water. We need to be supportive of Pacific representation in light of the ill effects that mono-cultural views have had on Maori in the past, what's good for Pasifka/Chinese/Pakeha/Maori people in NZ, is good for NZ. Can we say democracy?

15/07/2012 12:44:04 a.m.

Anonymous wrote:

As a New Zealand European, I think that Pacific Islanders should be happy be happy with what they have got here in New Zealand because this is New Zealand and not the Pacific Islands. Pacific Islanders are truly ungrateful for what they have got in New Zealand already, and should not be greedy and just keep wanting more.

8/07/2012 9:46:45 a.m.

Phil wrote:

I believe in racial equality, we do not have it in NZ. If you are Pacific Islander or Maori you receive targeted Govt incentives and handouts that caucasian's arent entitled to. Do we have equality NO.I would like to see the reaction if the Govt proposed a Caucasian Affairs Ministry to look after the rights of Caucasaians! I accept that the culture of different ethnic groups does deserve some extra attention - I also believe that so does caucasian culture.

7/07/2012 12:39:25 p.m.

Huang wrote:

I know pacifica have a lot of time to protest. But why are they protesting! DONMC says we are all migrants. NZ is not a land of milk of honey for all migrants. Some made it, some never! Too much honey, and very soon, there will be boat people on our shores. The message to all potential migrants and refugees is not to expect a life of luxury in NZ.

20/06/2012 6:54:39 p.m.

noancer wrote:

GO THE PACIFICA . . GO HARD . YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH .XX

18/06/2012 10:23:14 a.m.

DonMc wrote:

Last time i checked everyone in NZ were immigrants or migrated here somehow. Don t tell us to go back to the pacific when you all migrated here yourselfs.

17/06/2012 11:54:52 a.m.

aj wrote:

I know it is hard for people to make ends meet in this country but this is New Zealand not the Pacific Islands. Would you go to the japanese government or England or american governments and do the same, you have chosen to live in this country so unfortunatly you must not be treated any different to anyone else, in fact I would like to think that New Zealand citizens would be treated first but we know that is not true. What creates social unrest is people with cultural differences who believe it is their right to enforce them in our country, if you wish to live here fine, just live like we do and there will be no problem.

17/06/2012 10:52:58 a.m.

kath wrote:

Glad the pasifika people are speaking out against their oppression by government in aotearoa....

17/06/2012 10:43:15 a.m.

jan.. wrote:

Whoever granted you your New Zealand citizenship is to blame for your hardship but fighting for your rights in this country needs a fair treatment and not ignored.. The asians are here and our winz and income are given them a handout, but what about the neigbourhood of New Zealand from the Pasifika.. Perhaps the Pasifika people should try a little harder and don't stop until they achieve that gold..