Issue 78 - editorial

Boots and all

Tena ano tatou

In the next few weeks the mood of the country will either go through the roof, or plummet into rarohenga. It will all ride on whether or not we win the Rugby World Cup now being played out in France and Britain.

A win will allow us a euphoric ride into our Christmas holidays. A loss, or worse still, elimination before the final, as happened last time - well it's really too awful to contemplate.

But whatever happens, our cover star Melodie Robinson will be part of the media army bringing us the worst or the best, from the tournament through her work with Sky Sport. Mel, who used to work for us here at Mana on her way to fame, is unique in her role as a rugby commentator and presenter. Not only the first woman in the world to do that but she’s the first Maori too.

Tipene O’Regan and his people down south claim her pedigree, but we all know where Tahu Potiki originally came from don’t we?

Not so amusing is the decision by our Government not to sign the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous People’s Rights. Three other countries – America, Australia and Canada joined us and bravely held out against the rest of the world. Is it significant that our governments are all dominated by the descendants of people who colonised those countries and usurped the rangatiratanga of the original peoples?

And is it also significant that ‘Mother Britain’ did sign? You may want to contemplate those matters as we roll down to the next general election.

As this magazine is making its way to you and the news stands, a major report is being released about Maori in Australia. It makes extraordinary reading and suggests that as many as one Maori in six may now live in Australia. It also suggests that if the present rate of Maori emigration continues there will come a time when more Maori will live in Australia than in Aotearoa.

We’ll flesh out that story for you in our next issue. In the meantime enjoy Mana 78 and, ‘Go the AB’s!’