It's interesting to see how media have portrayed Maori and categorise them into 2 particular groups widely known as "Wild Maori" and "Tame Maori" or "Us" and "Them"Recently we apppointed a new governor general, Jerry Matepaere. He was once the chief of the NZ defence force and served in the NZ army for many years. This is an example of who media proposes to be a "Tame Maori" or one of those as discussed in a reading by Sue Abel as one of "Us" someone who appears to fit into mainstream media without causing a fuss.
Hone Harawira on the other hand is famous for his radicalism. Continuously speaking out of turn and causing what some would argue to be chaos amongst society. However, he is a minister of parliament and holds quite a powerful position but he is still labeled as a "Wild Maori" or as mainstream media purports to be an example of "Them" - those who do not conform to what is considered appropriate behaviour.
Waitangi celebrations have been a popular ground for protestors. "Us" or "Tame Maori" seen as conforming to celebrations of the treaty while "Them" "Wild Maori" seen as disrupting the occasion by demanding that the treaty should not be celebrated.
These wild Maori are what media label as trouble makers and find them to be newsworthy. John Fiske brings an excellent theory to the table to explain what is considered news worthy. A state of equilibrium is or social harmony that is usually disrupted by a villain...example, Hone. Newsworthy events are those that disrupt or restore equilibrium, for example, Hone protests against injustices of the treaty which causes a disruption to the equilibrium known as disequilibrium - Police then arrest him and therefore restore the equilibrium. This from a pakeha narritive.
Ian Stuart discusses differences between Maori and Pakeha narratives - from a protestors point of view, Maori would see the equalibrium being restored by acknowledgement and settlement of treaty injustices a recent example government introduced legislation to negate Maori rights of entitlement to foreshore causing a disruption. Maori party repeal the legislation by restoring the equilibrium. (Although many Maori could argue that the repeal enforces the initial disruption)
A "Tame Maori" like Jerry Matepaere or poi swinging kapa haka performers are seen as boring and not disrupting the equilibrium, therefore are not considered newsworthy from a Pakeha narrative and not reported on.
So how do we change what the hegemonic of society construe to be a "Wild Maori?" Simple, by media displaying more in the way of positive recognition of Maori initiatives! Also, educating our up and coming generations on the misinterpretations of The Treaty of Waitangi. My son is in his last year of college and was under the impression until recent that there was only one version of Te Tiriti. What does this say for our education system? It could certainly be argued that education and media intertwine. Mainstream schools continue to enforce and teach misinformed or one sided arguments to the Treaty while Media enforce these arguments by portraying the issues of the treaty in a negative frame, therefore allowing our future generations to believe what they are being taught in school to be true.
Is there a way a Maori can disrupt the equilibrium but stay what media would consider to be a "Tame Maori?" From a Maori narrative definitely but from a pakeha narrative, most unlikely.
Will changes to the education system like allowing a Maori perspective of history be helpful to overcome such stereotypes of a "Wild Maori" My answer...A change in how we teach our children about Maori history will make a phenomenal difference. They are the future and how they are taught from a young age will help them understand why Maori fight for certain changes.
Do you think education changes will help? Do you see Fiske and Stuarts theories on whats newsworthy to be true? Can you think of other means of changing the hegemonic societies perceptions of Maori? - He aha to koutou whakaaro?
