On May 18 Statistics NZ announced "ethnic diversity projected to rise". Smile. Greater ethnic diversity could progressively render Rotorua's divisive politics of biculturalism obsolete.
New Zealand's population is projected grow by about 1 million in the next 20 years. The "European or Other" group is projected to drop from 75 per cent in 2013 to about 66 per cent in 2038, mainly due to its older age structure. Over the same period, ethnic groups with higher birth rates or higher migration gains will increase their share of the population.
The Maori ethnic population is projected to rise from 16 per cent to 18 per cent of the population. The broad Pacific ethnic group will increase from 8 to 10 per cent. The broad Asian ethnic group, including Chinese and Indian, will almost double, from 12 to 22 per cent.
Assuming similar trends in Rotorua, the dramatic rise in ethnic diversity is likely to undermine support for co-governance driven by a politics of biculturalism, because it violates the equity of human rights. It would encourage instead the development of a multicultural and pragmatic appreciation of legitimate political interests.
We should welcome such a trend because it would increasingly value interculturalism as a pathway to peaceful policy settlements, especially pragmatic solutions built on the common ground in the public interest.
It would illustrate the principle that democratic governance and equal human rights of all citizens are essential components of sustainable development and lasting peace.
REYNOLD MACPHERSON
Rotorua
