August 10, 2020
Indigenous Day highlights Māori resilience
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon says there is much to celebrate in the contributions of New Zealand’s indigenous people to the nation.
Yesterday was the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, and Mr Foon says New Zealand has learned a lot from the resilience of Māori whānau and communities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says Māori are speedy and effective when responding to an emergency because they can draw on strong leadership, networks and infrastructure.
Māori advocacy on the environment has also had an impact.
"Some people might moan that 'there they go again, they want this, they want that,' but no, they have made sure our waterways are clean, the sewage doesn't continue to go out to sea, poos don't roll into the river and pollute our kai, the drinking water has been improved, and the innovation that has actually come from Maori," Commissioner Foon says.
Meng Foon says when he was mayor of Gisborne he saw first hand the benefits of getting Māori input into issues like wastewater and sewerage.
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