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Patricia Grace is arguably one of the best authors New Zealand has ever seen. I first read a short story by her in high school for NCEA called "Flower Girls" which slowly but surely exposed a dark side to a family, written between the lines. This novel holds a breadth of knowledge encapsulated in the viewpoints of four of the characters.
Gran Kura, the oldest character who acts as a grandmother tells her story throughout the pages starting from a childhood attending a school where speaking Maori was banned even where it was the only language a child knew properly. Her stories from childhood to adulthood and experiencing continuing disregard by government authorities, act as a poignant backdrop to the grievances that are exposed and that follow throughout the book. As an adult, she become a Maori language activist, seeking to never speak English again.
Tawera, the great-grandson of Gran Kura is perhaps the most interesting character in the book, his older sister died before she was even born and her eyes taken out for studies by the hospital (of course without the permission of family). Tawera experiences a special bond with his sister throughout his childhood acting as her eyes which were stolen and never replaced. His childhood experiences are all coloured by her voice telling him to include her or to tell her what something looks like. To me, this story brought up the initial maltreatment of the first baby's death by the hospital and her spirit has stayed in the womb and attaches on to Tawera when he is born.
Paania, Tawera's mother loses her abusive husband in the same car accident that kills her first child. Her story is highlighted through the pages, firstly fighting against a husband who doesn't seem to care; secondly dealing with the loss of her first child; thirdly experiencing discrimination in her place of work and also watching Tawera grow up. Her role by the end of the book is furthered when she begins to address the grievances that her mother in law (Kura) has told her all about.
Mahaki is a lawyer working in a community office. After the council tries to sell the local iwi some land after having stolen it from them in the first place, he spearheads an attempt at peaceful protest against the council who will not accept their argument. This battle represents all the battles because of colour exposed throughout the book.
This book not only addresses characters in a phenomenal way but also shows the foundations of the Maori grievances that still exist until this day. Especially the anecdotes by Gran Kura show how a colonised race can lose out. You should read this book.
This book is actually my dad's, he did a Treaty of Waitangi course run by this guy a few years ago, and must have decided this book was worth a read. It's split into two parts: firstly addressing the grievances of New Zealand and other countries and their colonial histories and secondly looking at ways of healing these past grievances and moving on. This book did strike a note with me, especially in the parts about education. I remember in primary school, around the 6th of February every year, we would learn about the Treaty of Waitangi and I got soooo bored. However, after learning about it at university, I am now extremely interested in it, and have a far greater understanding than I did about both Maori and Pakeha grievances and attitudes towards the Treaty. The only parts I have to complain about was the recount of Wi Parata v Bishop of Wellington where it said the grant was for a church when it was actually for a school.
The second part of the book dealt with "healing the history" or rather treating the grievances with respect and moving on. It dealt with the now widespread Waitangi Workshops which Robert Consedine oversaw, and the reasons for them being usually culturally split and how this affected the running of the groups. It effectively showed how these groups can change opinions about our history at an executive level and continue to address grievances. Unfortunately this book was published before thet Foreshore and Seabead Act 2004 was passed, so was unable to address the grievances encapsulated in this law.
The book was also written effectively with anecdotes at the beginning of every chapter and life experiences such as the death of his daughter with circumstances to how he dealt with the unfairness in which she died and made amends with those who caused the distress for the family and the further investigations. The book is also written with help from his other daughter, Joanna, but it is not quite clear how she has contributed, as most of the chapters have his name at the beginning and his experiences as being a part Irish New Zealander who has fully researched the effects which the Treaty of Waitangi have had in our history. It also addresses situations in similar countries and their experiences with indigenous people and how they dealt with customary land rights. It holds information on Canada, Australia and Ireland and their different colonial histories.
I think this is a very useful resource, but not paticularly for information about the Treaty, since it doesn't include a lot of information but as a resource for government representatives and other people with influence to consider, firstly the repercussions of our history and secondly, how we can go about restoring cultural relationships.
Next up: Serial Survivors: Women's Narratives of Surviving Rape by Jan Jordan
