Yesterday on the AM show Ryan Bridge interviewed a couple of people lamenting the bizarre decision by Creative NZ to stop funding Shakespeare due to colonialism or some such nonsense. Presumably, everyone finds this a little odd and it’s made international news, making New Zealand a laughing stock (hint: Shakespeare died 400 years ago; about a century before Britain started building an empire). Another person interviewed the head of Creative NZ later in the day on his podcast and tore him to shreds.
Anyhoo, one of the reasons I am rather enthusiastic about the future of New Zealand – sans socialist government – is the number of “hidden gems” dotted around the country: young people who are intelligent, sensible, articulate go-getters – once they are given the opportunity – yet come from backgrounds which traditionally wouldn’t produce such traits.
The young chap in the video, Mahanga Mitchell, seems just marvellous; apodictically so! I am told he is from Waima in the Hokianga. He is really switched on and articulate, and was recently in the UK where (as I understand it) he was performing Shakespeare and dropping various Maori words into the dialogue. Or something. Sounds rather clever, whatever it was they were doing.
The boxer, David Nyika, is another one. I was introduced to him when he was 17, and he seemed a good chap who just needed the opportunity to shine. It may surprise you to learn, dear reader, how many of these folk are out there. They don’t want handouts, they don’t want special treatment, they just want to use their talents in a worthwhile fashion.
My point is there are many, many of these folk out there: hidden gems, as I have been discovering in recent years. It is something about which we should all feel delighted. Frankly, the more Maori people reading Shakespeare or running businesses or designing Cathedrals, the better.
Something we should all lament is the number of very talented Maori over in Australia who have done very well for themselves in business or other walks of life. Sadly they were never able to shine in this country; I suspect because it never quite suits the left-wing agenda for them to be successful over here. The last thing the left-wingers want – despite their lies – are lots of Maori millionaires wandering around drawing comparisons between their success and the lot in life of other folks.