Many cultures, all good citizens
Commentary
There always have been, always will be, people moving around the
world. We understand better now how the Maori came down to New Zealand,
to be followed from the end of the 18th Century by Europeans and
others.
Currently there are major movements into Europe, from North Africa,
Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and into North America from
the South and from East Asia. All these changes in demography impact
on economies, politics,
life-styles and cultures.
Ethnicities become blurred. Intermarriage makes it less and less
easy to speak as though people lived in clearly defined groups,
community or cultural, and as there is only one human race, words
such as “race” and “racial” can be misleading.
They are widely used, but sometimes with unhelpful implications.
Census
Our 2001 census found nearly 230 countries represented amongst
the birth places of people who live in New Zealand. More than 50
of those countries had contributed more than 1000 people. And who
should be surprised?
For the most part we mix up freely and live together happily enough,
and let’s hope we stay that way. Some will no doubt drift
away; undoubtedly more will arrive.
Displaced persons
Plainly enough some new arrivals take longer than others to adjust
(New Zealand has for long been sympathetic and generous towards
refugees - Displaced Persons in post war years - and asylum seekers)
but over time they all become more or less “kiwis” –
they meld into a common identity – while retaining, no doubt,
some distinctive features. The concept of “assimilation”
has now gone out of favour. And while newcomers adjust to our way
of doing things, “we” learn to recognize and utilize
their strengths. On both sides there will be changes, not only in
life-style but in values and ways of thinking. Our society, like
our economy, is constantly changing.
Meaning of terms
Talking about these relationships, therefore one must be careful
about the meaning of terms. Given that there are no individual races,
to speak of someone’s racial background is better seen is
a reference to his or her ethnicity – but a high proportion
of people, certainly in New Zealand, are of mixed ethnicity. In
this country data is based on the principle of individual self-identification:
when asked people associate ethnicity along with cultural affiliation
but also along with such factors as previous nationality, and prospects
in this country. The term “ethnic minority” is not very
useful, therefore. “Cultural group”, because the definition
of culture must always be quite loose, may be more satisfactory.
It is argued that culture is what matters for identity, not ethnicity
and not money either. And clearly there are “communities”
of people who are ready to acknowledge a linkage and who will from
time to time display or express a common interest. (Recently Wellington
enjoyed a Greek Festival – though no one would suggest that
all participants were exclusively of Greek ethnicity. Subsequently
Te Papa celebrated the achievements in this country of the Italian
Community.)
A Middle Eastern country has recently been described as a cocktail
of concessions and ethnicities. New Zealand is perhaps unlikely
to go that far, but is already vastly different from the New Zealand
of 100 years ago.
Valuable contributions
We know that people who on first arrival in New Zealand look for
others who speak their language; and have a similar background and
perhaps religion may later drift away, finding new friends and new
interests. Some do this more quickly and easily than others.
Inevitably new arrivals make an impact on society, and most make
valuable contributions, whether as individuals or cultural groups,
not only w
ith their particular skills, their energy or capital but with their
music, their foods, their sporting abilities or the values they
express.
Pluralist democracy
In this pluralist democracy, as new voters they have ready opportunity
to voice their views on policy issues or their own expectations,
and alert politicians will take account. In some areas the electoral
balance may change. Everyone has to adjust a bit.
Over time, as New Zealanders are well aware, the balance of the
population can shift. We accept that it will never be static. Demographic
change continues remorselessly.
In today’s world such diversity – new people, new ideas,
new cultures – gives us new strength and is to be welcomed.
It is probably also inevitable, a fact of life which cannot be ignored.
Overseas Kiwis
If a number of the estimated one million “overseas Kiwis”
were to return that too would make a significant difference. Consider
for a moment how progressive waves of immigration have changed American
society.
Settlement education
We must be concerned therefore, that new arrivals are given assistance
and guidance as may be necessary and that as they are absorbed into
the body politic – as they take their places as citizens –
while important aspects of their cultures can be preserved these
do not become the cause of feuding, unpleasantness and tension.
Education, in the broadest sense of the word, should produce understanding,
toleration, and respect. Ultimately, we are all citizens, so we
should be good citizens. It is that citizenship which binds us together,
whatever our backgrounds may be. Meanwhile we continue to cherish
our diversity.
New Zealand is home to representatives of many cultures who, whether
after many generations or as recent arrivals, chose to live here
and to see themselves as one people. This is something to be proud
of.
From Roger Peren, a Centre for Citizenship Education Adviser,
and former New Zealand diplomat Updated Tuesday, March 15,
2005
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