United Future

I was actually thinking along the same lines this morning. The lines of what we have achieved in the last 165 years of New Zealand as a country.

It is in my opinion we have spend the last 165 years, if we take 1845 as a starting benchmark, spend that time building a 'country'. Now, perhaps, we need to start building a 'nation'.

I mean by this that we must start to ask ourselves how we want others to see us. What values and ideas about this country that we have built, can we show? As to inspire. As to want others to our shores. As to our friendships with other 'nations'.

For me, the new focus is 'transforming ourselves' as catch phrase, and that foreign policy is now the new domestic policy. I mean by that- our focus must look out, as we build a nation- because we need the diversity of cultures full stop, in order to move towards the future as a 'nation'. And we need to see value assumptions of liberty and prosperity as corner stones in this transformation towards becoming a 'nation'.

United Future's policy for a Multiculturalism Act is a good one. But what about a more permanent institution to safeguard the rights of all minorities in New Zealand. The British 'Equality and Human Rights Commission' would perhaps be a good model. A permanent, powerful watchdog and advocate for minorities and human rights!

The current debate around dedicated Maori representation on the new Auckland supercity raises an interesting point in this context. Do minorities actually benefit from separate representation like this? My view, based on the history since the introduction of the Maori seats in 1867, is that they do not actually. All dedicated separate representation does is "ghettoise" support into particular places, and confirm a group's position as a minority. I would far rather see circumstances which encourage wider participation across the board, not just isolate into a few places.