The BFD Transcript
Kerre McIvor Mornings on Newstalk ZB Monday 27 September 2021 11:15, starts 3:11 minutes in.
Cam:
I just wanted to make a very quick comment. Umm…I’m a Maori myself, married to a Pakeha.
Kerre:
Yup.
Cam:
So, we are two peoples coming together and I think with the Three Waters…aah…scenario…I think, you know, the treaty is a marriage originally between two peoples.
Kerre:
Yep.
Cam:
And it’s a partnership. So, I think there is a part of me that’s saying what’s wrong with being a partner with…umm…with…you know the Crown?
The other point I wanted to make though, is…I do agree though, there is…there is this rhetoric that’s coming through in this government and consecutive governments before, and you made the comment of saying “them and us”.
Kerre:
Hmm.
Cam:
They are very good at creating a “them and us” scenario.
Kerre:
Yeah.
Cam:
And…umm… we are one people, we are humans and this whole rhetoric of “them” “us” causing division…umm “those Maoris”… “those Pakeha” and it goes both ways so I’m…I’m completely…aah…I don’t like this umm…you know…my middle white friend or…can’t speak openly now and I think that is bad, that umm you get squashed when these type of opinion…any freedom to discuss, and I think it’s good when people can discuss, have robust discussions and arguments with each other whether it’s Maori…Pakeha, and I think that’s probably where I want to head as our freedom.
So, this Saturday, me and my wife, we are standing with the growers, with the Freedom and Rights Coalition on 2nd October at the Domain, at 11 o’clock this Saturday and that’s with the Groundswell crew. They’re going to be taking ten tonnes of vegetables to many families.
Kerre:
Oh, great. That’s fantastic.
Cam:
They’ve had discussions with the police so for any of those people that are wary, everyone will be wearing masks at this…we don’t call it a protest, it’s a stand, and it’s basically about the right to have freedom.
I respect my wife with her Pakeha views, right, we can have a discussion.
But I find that this government, in particular, likes to divide us, likes to have us to be divided so that they can do what they need to do because where there’s division there is no unity among people.
And I think people are at the umm…at the…at their wits’ ends in regards to being in lockdowns, …being told what to do…not…you know, I’m not an anti-vaxxer, I do however…I’m a bit sceptical about health freedom to choose…education…everywhere we are going, we are sort of shoved onto it.
And I do want to say, you know, all those Pakeha that are out there, that are…there are Maori out there…it’s not us Maori pushing it.
A lot of these people are coming from university with their liberal views and they’re pushing it.
As Maori we are very flexible in how we work the Pakeha. I don’t want to push Maori…you speaking Te Reo…but, you know, we can have robust discussions. If you don’t want to, that’s your freedom and your choice, we all stand there.
That’s why we are making a stand this Saturday at the Domain…with the growers, with business people…and we’re doing it in a peaceful way. We are not going to do it violently.
So, this Saturday at the Auckland Domain.
Kerre:
Auckland Domain, yeah. But that’s the thing though, isn’t it, I mean it’s like there was a town and country divide and I don’t think it’s just the government…this government, I think social media’s also done that, where it pushes people further and further apart until they’re screaming at each other rather than having robust discussions? You used to be able to do that.
I mean, even…even if you look within the gay community, they’re splintered into such factions…a lot of them too…it’s not…you can’t even get strength in numbers anymore, it’s all your individual niche interest group, whatever that might be. You know, whether you’re trans, whether you’re a farmer, whether you’re Maori, whether you are…you know?
It just seems to be really shouty and really horrible. You have to pick a side and then you have to defend it and you can’t have any criticism of it and the other guys are bad and you’re good. It’s just awful. I agree.
Cam:
Yes.
Kerre:
Well, good on you!
Cam:
Yeah, and I just wanted to say, Kerre, that you know, there are a lot of umm…people in media at the moment that argue against myself, but I do commend yourself, Mike Hosking…for people that want to have a voice, that are able to express it without getting violent that can have that robust discussion.
And I do applaud the likes of yourself and all those broadcasters that have…that…not always are on board or not always drinking the Kool-Aid that the government’s giving but are giving people opportunity to air frustrations and so, yeah, thank you very much.
Kerre:
Thank you! I’ve had so many texts saying “best caller” “a brilliant caller” “bang on” so you are resonating with a lot of people Cam, your viewpoints.
Cam:
Thank you.
Kerre:
Thanks a lot for your call.
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