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Margaret Mutu - Source: ONE News -
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Auckland academic and Maori rights campaigner Margaret Mutu has
reinforced her call for immigrants to be tested for racist
attitudes, saying some South Africans in particular need to be
weeded out.
Professor Mutu says the problem of racist attitudes can be more
acute among South Africans, adding that they feel more at home in
New Zealand because of a racist regime similar to Apartheid.
Mutu, the head of the Auckland University's Department of Maori studies, says other white cultures settling in New Zealand can be racist too and the test should be universal.
Ngapuhi leader David Rankin is demanding the University of Auckland sack Mutu, saying her comments will offend hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders and she obviously thinks of herself as the Robert Mugabe of New Zealand politics.
His remarks followed Mutu's statement at the weekend that immigration by whites should be restricted because they pose a threat to race relations due to their "white supremacist" attitudes.
However, Mutu told TV ONE's Close Up that racism exists very strongly in New Zealand's parliamentary system and South Africans coming to this country are able to see "a regime that is not hugely different form the old one that they used to have, and that makes them feel comfortable".
She said some South Africans who came to New Zealand during the Apartheid era were strongly opposed to discrimination, but there are others who were very comfortable under the Apartheid scheme and supported it.
"That's where I have suggested that there should be some sort of vetting to make sure that those who would espouse depriving people what is rightfully theirs and actively pursing that, that they should not be allowed into the country."
Mutu said: "What I'm saying is that this country needs to have a long careful conversation about 1, the nature of racism, how it operates, what it's effects are and then, 2, how we're going to fix it up."
She said New Zealand still belongs to Maori and other people are here as welcome guests.
Maori should have the right to decide who comes in, and they did so when they signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, she said.
"We should have had a say right from the beginning, right from 1840. We did in 1840. We made the decision in 1840 to allow the British to come in here," she said.
Close Up's Mark Sainsbury suggested that people will say Muku is talking rubbish and is "a dangerous radical, stirring, troublemaker".
"They will say that," she replied.
"And what I would say to them is you need to look carefully at what racism is. Racism is defined in the academic books as an ideological and attitudinal phenomenon of superiority of your race, and that in combination with power, if that superiority is used to deprive another group of what is rightfully theirs on the basis of their race, that is the definition of racism."
She denied Maori are arguing for the superiority of their own race and wanting advantage over other races.
"I don't think I've ever heard Maori say that. It is not within our culture to say that we are superior. If anything we are always humbling ourselves. It is part of what we call our fundamental values to look after your guests, to have empathy with people and to make people feel comfortable.
"It is on that, particularly the ability to look after your guests, that we invited the British here in the first place."
She said she thinks she would be right in saying that nobody in New Zealand would actively support racism and say that racism is right.
"I think I'm right on that one. I hope I'm right."
Row sparked by Government survey
Mutu made her call for migrants to be screened for racism at the weekend, in response to a Department of Labour report which found Maori are more likely to express anti-immigration sentiment than Pakeha or any other ethnic group.
The Labour Department migrant report surveyed almost 1000 people on their perceptions of ethnic groups coming to New Zealand. Maori respondents were the most likely to agree with negative statements about immigrants, such as that they threaten New Zealand culture and steal jobs from Kiwis.
They were also more likely to disagree that immigrants contribute to New Zealand's culture and economy.
Ngapuhi's David Rankin said earlier today that as a Maori he welcomes white immigrants.
"They are the ones most likely to bring employment opportunities for our communities, and we don't see the sort of racism Margaret refers to," he said.
Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told TV ONE's Breakfast Mutu's comments were "slightly inflammatory" but he thought she was expressing an attitude shared by many in New Zealand.
His research showed other ethnic groups' attitudes toward migrants had been improving.
"But Maori, no, they are going the other way, they are more concerned," Spoonley said.
Maori perception had become increasingly negative, he said, with anti-immigration sentiment fed by Maori fears that multicultural policies were diminishing policies concerning Maori.
Spoonley said there is no way to screen migrants who are "white supremacists".
"Some migrants, but there are a very small minority, have supported those views."
He said once people are here, New Zealanders should look at what we can do to educate them about the country.
Immigrants are desperately needed for the various skills they offer, Spoonley said, adding: "By and large we treat immigrants with respect, we welcome them, but we could do better."
What do you think about immigration in New Zealand? Have your say on our messageboard.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentmenacerec said on 2011-09-13 @ 12:35 NZDT: Report abusive post
You are quite right Willie. Our taxes paid for a fleet of brand new 7 series BMW's for the National party last year and no one could care less about that...And that is just one of many such incidents. This country needs to take a long hard look at its self.
menacerec said on 2011-09-13 @ 12:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
There's nothing like reading TVNZ message boards to get a good taste of middle New Zealands ignorant, self-righteous and poorly educated state of mind.
wuzz said on 2011-09-12 @ 12:49 NZDT: Report abusive post
I'm sorry..."invited the British"? now she's trying to re-write history.
wuzz said on 2011-09-12 @ 12:18 NZDT: Report abusive post
How can she say she is not being racist? This is blatent, bigoted racism against white immigrants, with her making even more derogatory comments about South Africans in particular. We aren't going to stand for this - join the Facebook group 'petition to have Margaret Mutu publicly apologise for her racist comments' , https://www.facebook.com/groups/115148588588105/
Willlie said on 2011-09-07 @ 10:32 NZDT: Report abusive post
In response to the item you televised last night about immigration, the issue she was talking was highlighted in the obvious one sided views, in particular the jackass going on about how his taxes were paying for everyones dole. The precise point she was trying to relay