When I searched the term ‘Maori pop music’ online, a page of ’music of New Zealand’ by Wikipedia comes on the top. According to wiki, ‘as the nation grew and established its own culture, local artists combined these styles with local influences to create music that is distinctively New Zealand.’ Then, what is ‘own culture’? This seemes to remain the controversy against the question ‘who are ‘we’ in New Zealand. There is an irony that pakeha people tends to regard their identity as a nationality, though it is Maori culture that is used to represent New Zealand when it comes to show their cuture with song or dance. Is the Wikipedia statement means that majority people thinks New Zealand has already achieved its establishment of unified New Zealand culture? Or people distinguish Maori pop music as a ‘Maori music’ and not ‘New Zealand music’??
Below are the top comments for the ‘Boy 2010 Movie Maori Thriller Ending Credits’ on the youtube:
‘thumbs up if your proud to be a new zealander’
‘195,435 views....mean, everyone in NZ's seen it then?:D
Love being a Kiwi !’
‘im proud to be a kiwi! :D’
These comments demonstrate us that many of the audience tends to think or believe that they are unified ‘New Zealander/ Kiwi’. Also, according to the 2006 census, people those who assert their ethnic self-recognition as a ‘New Zealander’ is increasing.
As Kristine said in her lecture, new music contains Maori music elements are one way of decolonization. It can be said that they are on the way for the success for the purpose if they are gradually regarded as just ‘New Zealander music’ : normalized culture in New Zealand, not destroying their tradition.
However, when I was watching Rugby world Cup match with my friends, one of the European New Zealand guy said ‘Hey, stop, you’re not a Maori’ to the European All Blacks player when he showed facial contortion with his tongue. This might connote his feeling for Haka as Maori’s culture, not entirely New Zealand one. Also it might expressed his hesitate toward saying those Haka as a New Zealand normalized culture.
Is it just Pakeha people are ignoring their identity as a Pakeha, which is related to colonial history between Maori? Or it means that people those who accept Maori culture as not a marginalized culture but an important element to construct the nation are increasing among all over the nation??
It can be said that the statement on Wikipedia about establishment of New Zealand ‘own culture’ is partly true. But it is also true that some people do not admit culture such as Haka, which is used to reflect New Zealand as the ‘New Zealand’ culture, but it as the ‘Maori’ one. However, I assume music is more easy way for people to accept those as a own ‘New Zealand culture’ to be proud of since it is ‘new genre’ even if contains Maori traditional elements compared to more traditional exihibiton such as Haka in Rugby game. Therefore what the Kristine talked about the power of decolonization of music was very understandable for me.
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