Readers' views: Maori protocol

National MP Judith Collins says she will refuse to take a back seat to men during Maori ceremonies off the marae. We asked readers if men should take precedence at such occasions, forcing women to sit behind them. Here is a sample of responses:

DISAGREE

Women should only have to sit behind men at Maori ceremonies if they are held on marae or Maori property. The Maori are using sexual discrimination and hiding behind the "protecting the bearers of life" story. It annoys me that this country is letting the politically correct flag-wavers take over. I don't like to think of myself as a racist, but the way the Maori are using racism and sexism under different cloaks is turning me into one. They say they want equality and a fair share, yet to me it means as long as they get what they want, then others have to either miss out or get second pickings. This is not the way I was brought up as a New Zealander. D.P. O'Sullivan.

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Too many of our Maori protocols have been used and abused in many instances. Maori men say that protocols were designed to protect the women, that's why they have to sit at the back ... Protect the women, when many of our Maori men are wife beaters, child beaters and molesters. There are Maori men who really need to take a good look at themselves and stop using the Maori protocols as an excuse to elevate themselves to a position of importance, whilst giving little consideration to their women. Victoria Smith.

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Where a Maori ceremony is organised by central or local government officers, female discrimination should not be permitted. The Josie Bullock fiasco and the humbug involving Judy Collins at the Kelvin Rd school shouldn't be allowed. Harold Ellison.

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On their own land, they [Maori] can choose to follow whatever protocol they like. On state-owned property or when interacting with the wider community off their own land, they should not be able to force their archaic views on other people. My sister's experience with Maori protocol was such that over a period of time she felt degraded and excluded by her Maori colleagues through the use of Maori protocol in a state-funded organisation. If we are a secular state and we do not say grace when dining with the head of the Church of England, then why do we indulge the spiritual values of Maori (only Maori) on state occasions, and for the opening of the proverbial envelope? It just does not make sense to me. Linda Wright.

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Our nation's laws take precedence over all customs within our multicultural society. While it may be Maori custom to have women relegated behind their menfolk, their marae and schools reside within New Zealand and New Zealand's laws are quite clear. We are all to be treated equally, and are therefore not to be discriminated against due to our appearance, physical ability, sex, age, colour or race. Shame on those who fired Josie Bullock and shame on those who support gender-based discrimination. Richard Glen.

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Maori traditions have a part to play in our country, but observing all of their traditions is taking political correctness way too far. It is now infringing on personal freedom. How on Earth someone could be fired from her job for not sitting behind the men (her colleagues) is ridiculous. I think she would be justified in lodging a personal grievance against her employer. I have no objections to observing Maori customs if the meeting takes place on the marae but I think the cultural sensitivity police have forgotten we have many cultures that make up New Zealand. Louise Moore.

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I think Judith Collins is right. The place for Maori custom is on a marae. Requirement to observe Maori custom in the rest of society is forcing it on others, perhaps at the expense of long-established and respected customs of non-Maori people. Cultural sensitivity is a coin with two sides. R.M. Smith.

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Ms Collins has attained her rank of MP through hard work - why should she not sit in front?

Just because something is a tradition does not mean that it is right. It is the nature of the world that things will, and must, change. I have no objection to traditions being continued at marae, but in a state school setting I find this appalling. Isn't the whole idea of a state school that religion and race do not enter into it - it is a school for all to attend regardless of their culture. What about the other 28 per cent of students who are not Maori. Are their traditions represented in the school? Nicola Denney.

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No, women should not have to sit behind men. We're grown-ups and perfectly capable of looking after ourselves. I thought the Women's Liberation Movement had made it quite clear we didn't want to be "protected", or patronised either. Annie Whittaker.

AGREE

Following tradition only enhances the respect I have for the individuals doing so.

As a woman and a feminist, I have no issue sitting behind men if this is the custom at such events, and I believe that women who do have a problem with such customs have some insecurity about how they see themselves and their gender. Amanda Jepson.

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I am not Maori but I respect their tikanga (protocols).

What Judith Collins tried to do was disrespectful and ignorant of tikanga.

She needs to learn the culture and be sensitive, too, not only to Maori but other ethnic cultures, because she is living in a multicultural society. Mele Heketoa.

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I think this issue is getting out of hand. Both of these women, no doubt, had an itinerary, knew they were attending a Maori function and knew they would need to adhere to Maori protocol.

If they did not agree with the procedure, they should not have attended. Caroline McLeod.

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The answer is to simply not attend such occasions. If you don't agree with aspects of another culture, then that is your right. However, do not force change to suit your own beliefs.

Change within any culture happens from within, due to adaptation to the environment. To force change results in resentment from those affected, leading to a backlash and perhaps even violence. R. Taylor.

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I am a 45-year-old Maori woman who was brought up in the city and I, too, was taken aback when I was first told that I must sit behind men at the marae, and that only men do the talking.

I found it very enlightening to realise the men were in the front as our protectors because we, as women, are the special gender, or the "life-givers", as my grandmother would say.

Where you sit at any function is trivial to the things that matter. Also, remember that if you were in any other country, you would have to respect their protocol. Jeanette Francis.

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It makes total sense that men were placed in front of the women traditionally to protect, not belittle.

Why? Because they were physically stronger. What the hell is wrong with that? Does that make men somehow better? Of course not.

Should the tradition continue today?

Yes. What is wrong with tradition remaining that, as long as its formation is understood? Dean McQuoid.

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Poor, articulate Judith Collins, feeling "pretty stink" just because she couldn't sit in the front row.

Perhaps she now has a little more empathy for other people, those whose rights she and her colleagues want to eradicate.

The National Party seems to want to have their politically-correct cake and eat it too. Philip Patston.

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The question should be: "Do you think Maori protocol should be adhered to outside marae contexts, in state functions?"

Otherwise readers are being asked their view on the status of males in Maori society. Now that's been in place for longer than any Euro has been here. Shawn Gielen.