Photo _ Paul Feenstra
Dragons, Deals and Dollars
Written by Rosina Hauiti this article introduces a series that will discuss Chinese investment in New Zealand and how it might impact on Māori. Rosina is Director of Pacific-Intel, Geo Political Reporters. She is a former documentary maker and a long time TU MAI contributor.
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TŪ MAI | Mar/April 2012
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n recent times, the tolerance levels of many New Zealanders have been tested in ways not experienced before. The notion of our national assets being sold to foreign investors, plus massive investment by China in New Zealand are concepts Māori, in particular, need to grapple with. The public furore has seen government Ministers Maurice Williams, Tau Henare, Bill English and Hekia Parata accuse the dissenting voices, including tangata whenua, of being xenophobes and backward thinkers. But are we? Is wanting to preserve our way of life and assets for our own a racist precept? Is there more to it than just a gut reaction of wanting to maintain an equilibrium we can all understand?
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