What Karen Chhour has done is really fantastic. However, I fear that the people who created this abomination are still within the public service and will simply work towards their activist cause in some other way. They need to be weeded out ALL ACROSS THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
Agreed. However there are situations, more and more in recent times, where insidious and deceitful actions by public servants should warrant their dismissal. The protection of them by the Public Service Commission seems now to be an impediment to the conduct of democratically governance. If government is supreme they can fix this. I see no stomach for this at all. I despair how we get a government we deserve.
Well said Ani. I would add that I can't see the point in the seemingly constant rebranding of government departments. Surely the only logo required is the New Zealand Coat of Arms, followed by the name of the agency, hopefully in English.
Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for the apparently endless rounds of rebranding and changing of logos. The rest of the world seems to manage without it.
Agree with every word of this. The public service seems utterly out of touch with ordinary NZers (including Maori), and is determined to push an ideological agenda even if this is at odds with the primary purpose of serving the public. Karen Chhour has real mana and dignity, and the race traitor tropes that have been used against her are abhorrent.
Thank you for your well written explanation of how this agency needs to change. Sexual and family violence impacts everyone here, even if Maori wahine feature highest in the recorded statistics.
I tell you what, I am starting to think white women have been cursed to behave like utter morons when it comes to these cultural matters. As a white woman myself I’m often aghast at how cringy and “White Saviour” they are.
Just as a fyi, the Plain Language Act is under repeal. It was a ridiculous bill, which evidently no one took any notice of, anyway. Certainly not for public messaging, which has gone as far away from being understood by the most people in the shortest amount of time as practicable, as it it could possibly get.
I am hoping that if we talk about this with open minds and measured tones we can keep the heat out of it but we will see!! This cannot be a discussion that is silenced by accusations of hate or anti-Māori sentiment. It’s too important
BTW, I was oblivious to your past treatment, and the bullying labelling. Good on you for recovering (stronger than ever, I hope).
Sir Ray Avery has stats that suggest NZ leads the world in domestic violence (on a population basis). If that's right, it's a terrible situation that hopefully Karen's changes will help to address (given time, as you note).
I think you would know - am I right that no other woman has ever been subject to as much abuse by other women in Parliament, as Karen Chhour has?
I happened to meet Ms Chhour on Molesworth St (she was buying fish n' chips for her staff); it was nice to be able to tell her how despite the vitriol she was getting from the media and self-interest groups about the repeal of s.7AA from the OT Act, us regular folk thought she was awesome and to keep fighting the good fight.
It's a worry that the absurdity of this situation just hasn't sunk in. If Maori whanau, haapu, iwi and communities - in fact any and all whanau, haapu, iwi and communities - are to have and retain their own independence, respect and integrity, then they have to some appreciable extent be left alone to do exactly that. The more they are perpetually dependent upon government sector administration, supports and interference, then they obviously can't maintain their own internal integrity (let's call it 'rangatiratanga,' if so be it is understood in that way). That can only grow when families and communities practice standing upon their own feet....
Quite simply, we can't be both independent and supplicant at the same time....
Great article Ani thank you . Thank you because I have been the victim of confusion in identifying government departments and have given up on occasions. I have no problem with
Te reo names but only if there is an English title displayed . Great admiration for Karen - such a gutsy politician and obviously feared by the opposition identified by the extent of their attempted bullying of her in the house.
I met Karen Chhour a few weeks ago at the Act get-together (Okahu Bay, Auckland). She greeted attendees as we trooped upstairs to the venue. I jokingly apologised for the number of ‘pep talks’ I had emailed her when the insults were particularly obnoxious; she laughed and replied “No, keep them coming - believe me I’ve needed them now and then”.
This nonsense has to stop. The virtue signalling of the Maori cultural advisors and their masters (sounds like communist babysitters in the communist bloc days advising people what they can or cannot say) is insidious, well paid and persistent and must with their Public Service sympathisers be removed from the platform of sticking their damn canoe paddles into the affairs of Joe public New Zealanders. I know of some older persons in my district who could not find the public library as the name was in large te reo words with the blessing of the council.
I felt sad reading this Ani. A cursory look through the Te Puna Aonui site showed that by far the dominant language is English with all te reo translated. There was no ambiguity of message and the layout and language was clear. Your juxtiposing of statements and paragraphs in your post don't accurately reflect the flow of the information as given on the website.
If one wanted one coukd access the info in multiple languages, accessible formats and NZ Sign language - our other official language. No trouble with that ae?
But more importantly I was sad that in Aotearoa NZ, which is the only place on earth growing Māori and te reo Māori, that the burgeoning renaissance of this indigenous and official language isn't just celebrated with open curious minds.
Research will tell you being multi-lingual is great for the brain ... and for aquiring broader perspectives. In far flung continents being multi-lingual is both the norm and a respected aquirement. Its just sad to see the defensiveness and grim clinging to mono-linguistic ways of being, which stifle curiosity about other-than-my-personal-norm, encouraged and enflamed.
Moemoeā is a beautifully phonetically lyrical word for the concept of dream ... in English crisply enunciated and short. Neither better or worse than the other ... just different and I'm richer for knowing both.
What Karen Chhour has done is really fantastic. However, I fear that the people who created this abomination are still within the public service and will simply work towards their activist cause in some other way. They need to be weeded out ALL ACROSS THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
I honestly don’t know how we extract the insidious ideology of identity politics from the public service. It is like white on rice.
Agreed. However there are situations, more and more in recent times, where insidious and deceitful actions by public servants should warrant their dismissal. The protection of them by the Public Service Commission seems now to be an impediment to the conduct of democratically governance. If government is supreme they can fix this. I see no stomach for this at all. I despair how we get a government we deserve.
Well said Ani. I would add that I can't see the point in the seemingly constant rebranding of government departments. Surely the only logo required is the New Zealand Coat of Arms, followed by the name of the agency, hopefully in English.
Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for the apparently endless rounds of rebranding and changing of logos. The rest of the world seems to manage without it.
You would think! The govt would save billions if they stopped marketing unless necessary for vital public messages.
Agree with every word of this. The public service seems utterly out of touch with ordinary NZers (including Maori), and is determined to push an ideological agenda even if this is at odds with the primary purpose of serving the public. Karen Chhour has real mana and dignity, and the race traitor tropes that have been used against her are abhorrent.
Thank you for your well written explanation of how this agency needs to change. Sexual and family violence impacts everyone here, even if Maori wahine feature highest in the recorded statistics.
Well said again, Ani.
I know quite a few well-heeled pakeha women in their 70’s and 80’s who will, unfortunately, think Karen Chhour’s actions are nasty colonialism.
They are quite sure that Cook and his lot ruined a peaceful, kind, gentle country, and this is another example of the awful treatment.
I tell you what, I am starting to think white women have been cursed to behave like utter morons when it comes to these cultural matters. As a white woman myself I’m often aghast at how cringy and “White Saviour” they are.
Just as a fyi, the Plain Language Act is under repeal. It was a ridiculous bill, which evidently no one took any notice of, anyway. Certainly not for public messaging, which has gone as far away from being understood by the most people in the shortest amount of time as practicable, as it it could possibly get.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/plain-language-act-repeal-bill-passes-first-reading
Oh great! There was a lot to dislike about it. I just found it funny how Labour passed it and then did all these things that contradict it.
Thanks Ani and go Karen! SHe's a brave woman.
You're a brave person. I'm Maori and I agree with you that govts should prioritise clear communication over cultural aspirations.
I am hoping that if we talk about this with open minds and measured tones we can keep the heat out of it but we will see!! This cannot be a discussion that is silenced by accusations of hate or anti-Māori sentiment. It’s too important
Excellent, thanks Ani.
BTW, I was oblivious to your past treatment, and the bullying labelling. Good on you for recovering (stronger than ever, I hope).
Sir Ray Avery has stats that suggest NZ leads the world in domestic violence (on a population basis). If that's right, it's a terrible situation that hopefully Karen's changes will help to address (given time, as you note).
I think you would know - am I right that no other woman has ever been subject to as much abuse by other women in Parliament, as Karen Chhour has?
Thank you! Yes I would say Sir Ray is correct. Our sexual violence stats are just as bad. A stain on our country.
I have been appalled by the treatment Karen has endured. It has been utterly toxic. I can’t believe how blasé the media has been about it too.
I happened to meet Ms Chhour on Molesworth St (she was buying fish n' chips for her staff); it was nice to be able to tell her how despite the vitriol she was getting from the media and self-interest groups about the repeal of s.7AA from the OT Act, us regular folk thought she was awesome and to keep fighting the good fight.
It's a worry that the absurdity of this situation just hasn't sunk in. If Maori whanau, haapu, iwi and communities - in fact any and all whanau, haapu, iwi and communities - are to have and retain their own independence, respect and integrity, then they have to some appreciable extent be left alone to do exactly that. The more they are perpetually dependent upon government sector administration, supports and interference, then they obviously can't maintain their own internal integrity (let's call it 'rangatiratanga,' if so be it is understood in that way). That can only grow when families and communities practice standing upon their own feet....
Quite simply, we can't be both independent and supplicant at the same time....
Great article Ani thank you . Thank you because I have been the victim of confusion in identifying government departments and have given up on occasions. I have no problem with
Te reo names but only if there is an English title displayed . Great admiration for Karen - such a gutsy politician and obviously feared by the opposition identified by the extent of their attempted bullying of her in the house.
I met Karen Chhour a few weeks ago at the Act get-together (Okahu Bay, Auckland). She greeted attendees as we trooped upstairs to the venue. I jokingly apologised for the number of ‘pep talks’ I had emailed her when the insults were particularly obnoxious; she laughed and replied “No, keep them coming - believe me I’ve needed them now and then”.
That says it all.
She comes across as a very genuine person and someone who truly cares about her work. We should absolutely continue to show her support :)
This nonsense has to stop. The virtue signalling of the Maori cultural advisors and their masters (sounds like communist babysitters in the communist bloc days advising people what they can or cannot say) is insidious, well paid and persistent and must with their Public Service sympathisers be removed from the platform of sticking their damn canoe paddles into the affairs of Joe public New Zealanders. I know of some older persons in my district who could not find the public library as the name was in large te reo words with the blessing of the council.
I felt sad reading this Ani. A cursory look through the Te Puna Aonui site showed that by far the dominant language is English with all te reo translated. There was no ambiguity of message and the layout and language was clear. Your juxtiposing of statements and paragraphs in your post don't accurately reflect the flow of the information as given on the website.
If one wanted one coukd access the info in multiple languages, accessible formats and NZ Sign language - our other official language. No trouble with that ae?
But more importantly I was sad that in Aotearoa NZ, which is the only place on earth growing Māori and te reo Māori, that the burgeoning renaissance of this indigenous and official language isn't just celebrated with open curious minds.
Research will tell you being multi-lingual is great for the brain ... and for aquiring broader perspectives. In far flung continents being multi-lingual is both the norm and a respected aquirement. Its just sad to see the defensiveness and grim clinging to mono-linguistic ways of being, which stifle curiosity about other-than-my-personal-norm, encouraged and enflamed.
Moemoeā is a beautifully phonetically lyrical word for the concept of dream ... in English crisply enunciated and short. Neither better or worse than the other ... just different and I'm richer for knowing both.
You write a lot of personal experiences in Government. It would make a lot more sense than already does if you had signed it.