Tena Koutou
For years now, Maori Rangatahi have wanted to engage in korero about who they are, what they had to offer, to anyone who might be listening. Rangatahi is 'defined as' 17-40 years in this space - I know, a large age gap - but this again is to encourage anyone who 'fits' in this gap to participate and be part of the conversation. In the months that lead up to the elections next year I will be asking people to leave their whakaaro on what they think is important to Rangatahi Maori, and how the Maori party can help us achieve what we want - and what we need, in order to become who we want to be in Aotearoa. For me, it is all about being successful (whatever that means), and being Maori at the same time - and not having to compromise either!
WHERE DO WE START? Glad you asked.......Our first get-together/hui/brainstorm session is at Te Whanau Toi (prefabs nearest the road, Hoani Waititi Marae) 441 West Coast Rd, Glen Eden, Aucks on SUNDAY the 8th of July 2-4pm.
We're going to have some personalities there, and Papa Pita Sharples will also be there too....So come along....There are two roopu- one for 17-19 year olds and one for those older than 19-40....And did I mention a kai? Nau Mai Haere MaiMauriora
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Rangatahi: Generation Y…(should I?) By Kaapua Smith
Rangatahi: Generation Y
Rangatahi: Generation Y…(should I?)28 Mar 2007 03:38 pm
Article written for Mana Magazine
Jan 2007
Rangatahi are slack at voting. Well at least according to the statistics held by the Electoral Commission we are. Voter turnout by Maori is low across the board compared to non-Maori, and young Maori aged under 25 are lagging even further behind when it comes to casting their votes at election time.
This may not have been such a big deal, if it weren’t for that fact that we make up such a huge proportion of the Maori population, and that the average Maori is getting younger and younger as time goes on.
Just look at the projections for the year 2050 which will see 50% of Maori being aged 27 and under. Compare that to our non-Maori population and you will see a huge difference – they’re all middle aged and getting older.
So rangatahi mä, the old cliché “we are the future” is more than just some cheesy line from a pre-historic Michael Jackson song. Literally, for Maori, Rangatahi are our future.
Now that sufficient emphasis has been placed on our impending take over of Maoridom – its time to turn our attention to how we can take over and save the rest of the world.
So, back to voting.
Many a battle, many a struggle have been fought all across the world to defend peoples rights to vote. People shed tears, line up for miles, traverse vast distances in order to make it to polling booths on voting day. Why? Because it is their right. Because they feel that by voting they can make a difference.
Voting, after all is the cornerstone of our democracy. It is our opportunity to exercise our might as a collective to punish or reward those political parties who wield influence over our lives.
So why then are we not voting?
Ahem…‘unreliable’ and ‘apathetic’ the Hon. Shane Jones called us last year. ‘Useless with no interest in current affairs’ said one Mr. Willie Jackson (on a rangatahi television show too I might add). Tena korua e ngä pakeke for your obviously well thought out assessment of our collective behavior.
As a member of the rangatahi generation that stands accused I am somewhat resentful in having to admit that there is a miniscule grain of truth hidden in their words. While we are not a homogenous group by any definition of the word, generally speaking we are apathetic, and we are disengaged.
Why? Well, mostly because politics is boring; because politics lacks relevance and connection to our daily reality; because one party is the same as the other from our perspective; and of course – as our parents taught us, there is no point in voting if our vote makes no difference anyway.
Yes that’s right – we are what you made us to be mum and dad.
The problem with this reasoning however, is that politics and voting actually do have relevance in our lives, or at least our future lives, and many of our rangatahi (if not all of us) are quite aware of this.
We all went to school (at least some of the time), and we all know that the government makes the laws of the land and that our vote decides who becomes government. The lack of connection or relevance I’m talking about does not come from our lack of understanding of the political system.
Its more of a generational thing. We are part of ‘Generation Y’, and we are the children of the ‘Generation X’.
We grew up in the age of the internet. We are used to change, new technology, instant communication and open access to the world at large. We are consumers, we grew up with choices, and although many of us may be oblivious to it we understand the world of competition, marketing and branding. ‘Don’t call us, we’ll call you’. That is the mentality of our generation. The text book analysis of ‘Generation Y’.
‘So what?’ you ask. Well, in a world where there are a million interesting things competing for our limited and valuable time and attention, government, politics and voting just don’t cut it. ‘Why should I…..?’ could very well be our catchphrase, and you could fill the blank with a whole lot of words, of which voting is only one.
‘Why should I vote?’
Beyond the fickle brand of the ‘orange man’ what some of us see is a bunch of old people making decisions about things that we just don’t care about. Boring.
The lack of attention or support of youth issues by politicians has not gone amiss. Neither has the infuriating ‘Maori bashing’ that has gripped the country since Brash’s Orewa speech.
We may be more interested in voting if we had some decent options. But for me at least it’s like having to choose between the Party that’s going to stab you in the back, or the one that’s going to stab you in the front. Do you see yet where our reluctance comes from?
So while the pakeke might scoff at us for abusing a right that many people have fought, struggled and suffered for the world over – (that must be why they call it suffrage) I would argue by saying at least those people knew their vote would make a difference to their lives.
What difference will my vote make in the next election?
Individually – not a lot. But collectively the difference could be huge. Remembering that currently rangatahi make up 17% of our population (a figure that will only increase over time) our collective vote could make a huge impact on the outcome of the election, the shape of the future government and the laws that are passed in this country.
So if you want us rangatahi to vote, just ask yourself “why should we?”
Give us some better options at election time, show us that you are prepared to deal with issues that matter to us, and convince me/us that my one vote can make a difference and you might just manage to catch our attention as well as our vote.
Before we get too optimistic though, remember that there will always be some of us rangatahi who are quite happy to let you old people deal with those little details while we go off and enjoy our youth. And be honest, there are also some of you pakeke who would rather not let us wield such influence over the affairs of government either.
‘If youth but knew! If age but could!’28 Mar 2007 03:38 pm
Rangatahi: Generation Y…(should I?)28 Mar 2007 03:38 pm
Article written for Mana Magazine
Jan 2007
Rangatahi are slack at voting. Well at least according to the statistics held by the Electoral Commission we are. Voter turnout by Maori is low across the board compared to non-Maori, and young Maori aged under 25 are lagging even further behind when it comes to casting their votes at election time.
This may not have been such a big deal, if it weren’t for that fact that we make up such a huge proportion of the Maori population, and that the average Maori is getting younger and younger as time goes on.
Just look at the projections for the year 2050 which will see 50% of Maori being aged 27 and under. Compare that to our non-Maori population and you will see a huge difference – they’re all middle aged and getting older.
So rangatahi mä, the old cliché “we are the future” is more than just some cheesy line from a pre-historic Michael Jackson song. Literally, for Maori, Rangatahi are our future.
Now that sufficient emphasis has been placed on our impending take over of Maoridom – its time to turn our attention to how we can take over and save the rest of the world.
So, back to voting.
Many a battle, many a struggle have been fought all across the world to defend peoples rights to vote. People shed tears, line up for miles, traverse vast distances in order to make it to polling booths on voting day. Why? Because it is their right. Because they feel that by voting they can make a difference.
Voting, after all is the cornerstone of our democracy. It is our opportunity to exercise our might as a collective to punish or reward those political parties who wield influence over our lives.
So why then are we not voting?
Ahem…‘unreliable’ and ‘apathetic’ the Hon. Shane Jones called us last year. ‘Useless with no interest in current affairs’ said one Mr. Willie Jackson (on a rangatahi television show too I might add). Tena korua e ngä pakeke for your obviously well thought out assessment of our collective behavior.
As a member of the rangatahi generation that stands accused I am somewhat resentful in having to admit that there is a miniscule grain of truth hidden in their words. While we are not a homogenous group by any definition of the word, generally speaking we are apathetic, and we are disengaged.
Why? Well, mostly because politics is boring; because politics lacks relevance and connection to our daily reality; because one party is the same as the other from our perspective; and of course – as our parents taught us, there is no point in voting if our vote makes no difference anyway.
Yes that’s right – we are what you made us to be mum and dad.
The problem with this reasoning however, is that politics and voting actually do have relevance in our lives, or at least our future lives, and many of our rangatahi (if not all of us) are quite aware of this.
We all went to school (at least some of the time), and we all know that the government makes the laws of the land and that our vote decides who becomes government. The lack of connection or relevance I’m talking about does not come from our lack of understanding of the political system.
Its more of a generational thing. We are part of ‘Generation Y’, and we are the children of the ‘Generation X’.
We grew up in the age of the internet. We are used to change, new technology, instant communication and open access to the world at large. We are consumers, we grew up with choices, and although many of us may be oblivious to it we understand the world of competition, marketing and branding. ‘Don’t call us, we’ll call you’. That is the mentality of our generation. The text book analysis of ‘Generation Y’.
‘So what?’ you ask. Well, in a world where there are a million interesting things competing for our limited and valuable time and attention, government, politics and voting just don’t cut it. ‘Why should I…..?’ could very well be our catchphrase, and you could fill the blank with a whole lot of words, of which voting is only one.
‘Why should I vote?’
Beyond the fickle brand of the ‘orange man’ what some of us see is a bunch of old people making decisions about things that we just don’t care about. Boring.
The lack of attention or support of youth issues by politicians has not gone amiss. Neither has the infuriating ‘Maori bashing’ that has gripped the country since Brash’s Orewa speech.
We may be more interested in voting if we had some decent options. But for me at least it’s like having to choose between the Party that’s going to stab you in the back, or the one that’s going to stab you in the front. Do you see yet where our reluctance comes from?
So while the pakeke might scoff at us for abusing a right that many people have fought, struggled and suffered for the world over – (that must be why they call it suffrage) I would argue by saying at least those people knew their vote would make a difference to their lives.
What difference will my vote make in the next election?
Individually – not a lot. But collectively the difference could be huge. Remembering that currently rangatahi make up 17% of our population (a figure that will only increase over time) our collective vote could make a huge impact on the outcome of the election, the shape of the future government and the laws that are passed in this country.
So if you want us rangatahi to vote, just ask yourself “why should we?”
Give us some better options at election time, show us that you are prepared to deal with issues that matter to us, and convince me/us that my one vote can make a difference and you might just manage to catch our attention as well as our vote.
Before we get too optimistic though, remember that there will always be some of us rangatahi who are quite happy to let you old people deal with those little details while we go off and enjoy our youth. And be honest, there are also some of you pakeke who would rather not let us wield such influence over the affairs of government either.
‘If youth but knew! If age but could!’28 Mar 2007 03:38 pm
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