September 04, 2014
Whanau shrink as incomes rise
A leading Maori researcher says Maori can't take traditional values for granted, but need to work to maintain them.
Linda Tuhiwai Smith, the director of Waikato University's Te Kotahi Maori Research Centre, told this week's Te Pae Roa 2040 Maori development conference at Massey University that the Maori difference is not a brand but a way of life.
She says that way of life has changes as Maori become part of the capitalist economy, which favours the nuclear family.
Whanau have become smaller, with fourth, third and even second cousins now being seen as hapu rather than being part of whanau.
That raises questions about how the benefits of development will be shared.
" I mean we're a little family and im obsessed totally with my grandchildren. I've tried to help my cousins and ive tried to help my nieces and nephews but my energy genuinely goes direct down and we've got to think of the mechanisms that allow that educational capital the social capital to be dispersed across the extended family, it doesn't happen " she says.
Linda Smith says cultural mechanisms like whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, aroha ki te tangata, te taha wahine me te taha tane are important balancing mechanisms and can help to address inequity.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH LINDA TUHIWAI SMITH CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjE3ODA=
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