Power to the People [2004]
An increasingly affluent population who want what they want when they want it is a powerful social force. What it can do in the marketplace, it can do in any other arena - like politics.
Growing discontent with the pursuit of indigenous rights by Maori has helped to generate a Pakeha backlash. In last year's survey two-thirds of 18 to 64 year olds (67%) agreed that "New Zealand has big race issues".
In Massey University's survey of NZ identity in late 2003, 93% agreed that "the same law should apply to all New Zealanders" - up 25% from a similar survey in 1996.
Race issues are 'volcanic' in nature and tend to rise and fall abruptly. There are always grumbles among the white folks about what Maori might be getting that they don't, but most of the time it doesn't matter enough to people to become a pivotal issue for them.
Typically one third of New Zealanders rarely get anxious about racial issues, another third are always sensitive to them, while the middle third only seem to become aroused when they feel personally threatened - like when someone else says they own the beach.
The arousal of this dormant group in 2003 may have contributed to a change in perceptions about New Zealand - the percentage of 18 to 64 year olds who believe that New Zealand will slip backwards has risen to its highest level in the 21st century:-
New Zealand will slip backwards if it keeps on doing what it's
doing:-
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| 47% | 39% | 55% | 56% |
The real question is not whether we are destined for racial disharmony - in my view, such issues reflect primal identity states that will always ebb and flow as long as there is discernible difference between people.
The real question is: will this latest expression of the power of
people to get what they want have further consequences? And if it
does - where will they strike next?
"The real question is: will this latest expression of the power of people to get what they want have further consequences? And if it does - where will they strike next? "
