Apartheid in South Africa was the state of being apart. It was racial segregation enforced through legislation. While this type of segregation is not what we see in New Zealand, make no bones about it, the country has been heading in this direction for some time. The reason why it is not obvious to most is because most think of Apartheid as legislated White privilege where Whites walk on one side of the street and Blacks on the other. Where this nice public facility is for Whites only and this run down one for Blacks.

While no one believes that New Zealand would ever get to that state,  a softer version of Apartheid does exists in New Zealand. The reason people cannot see it is because Apartheid is almost always viewed as as a system that favours Whites, and when Pakeha in New Zealand become less privileged, people do not generally see that as racist for some reason.

In New Zealand’s past and even today, Maori have been the victims of racism. But so are Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Pakeha. And is it ever right to persecute one group, then when that becomes unacceptable to society, to then target another. Is it right to replace racism toward Maori with racism toward Pakeha. I would argue that racism is never right. We should never legislate based on race and we should never think it is okay to be racist toward any race. Racism always leads to discontentment which if left unchecked long enough, could lead to unrest.

Today, New Zealand seems to accept the idea that there are Maori Parties that look after Maori interests and are comfortable with this. Yet. as soon as Pakeha decide to do the same thing. in order to gain fair representation, suddenly that becomes racist. There are many Maori and even Pakeha incensed at the idea that Pakeha represent their interests at all. Negative responses to the Pakeha Party is highlighting that racism is alive and well in New Zealand. While there are many Pakeha for the idea of a Pakeha Party, there are also many against.

The reactions from opponents of a Pakeha political movement range from ridicule to outright offense. But who needs to be reminded that racists show their hatred in a number of ways including ridicule and offense. What we are witnessing here is another facet of racism a sort of reverse racism if you like, but still racism. It seems that people in New Zealand are allowed to celebrate being Maori and Pakeha are not. Pakeha are made to feel shame for standing up for Pakeha rights or celebrating the fact that they are Pakeha.

The worst part of what I have witnessed is that fact that the Pakeha Party doesn’t have a mandate to fight for Pakeha privilege, it only seeks equality. Further, it only exists because there are other race-based parties, so it is simply a case of adapt to the system or be left out. And yet, people really believe this is about Pakeha racism. I have even heard people say that it is another face of the National Front. What a joke. All these people need to do is listen to what those in the Pakeha Party movement are saying, instead of imagining all kinds of  false conspiracies and believing false rumours.

Can New Zealand go past the dark ages of racism and suspicion, and succeed at creating a society where all are equal. If other countries can do it why can’t we. And while I acknowledge that racism will always exist, I am talking mainly about legislated racism because that is something we can change.