Opinion: Commerce versus culture

Birkenhead Brewing Company's Hinemoa Pacific Pale Ale, left, and Mokoia Pilsner Beer. They have since been pulled from shelves.

When 'alcohol meets ancestry' was the talk of social media last fortnight and it all stemmed from a little micro brewery in Auckland that took the liberty to use our local Maori ancestors to sell their beer.

It was off the shelves before too long, but it highlighted a cocktail that was sold at our bar, Ponsonby Rd, called the Hinemoa and Tutanekai.

As the story spread, newspapers came knocking, TV cameras were at the bar and we were forced to explain our actions. Well, one online petition, a name retraction, a whanau hui and a marae visit later, it's very apparent that a wider conversation needs to be had about the commercial use of Maori names and stories because it keeps popping up.

Last month, it was found that an overseas company was marketing Charles Lindauer paintings of Maori ancestors on shower curtains. This month it's Maori ancestors on beer bottles. What will it be next month? And more to the point, how do we prevent such outrage?

As we continue down our bi-cultural path, where does commerce and culture meet? What is the mechanism for people who want to enter that space? Who plays Judge Judy? There are a lot of questions that need to be asked and the more these issues arise, the more pressed we'll be to find a solution.

It's mild in comparison to the other politics of the moment. Like how on one hand, Rotorua's MP Todd McClay denied any knowledge of being told there was a threat of retaliation with China around one of our biggest exports and that the next day, he suddenly remembered all about it. Then there's the Maori Party co-leaders who supported our ex-Prime Minister Helen Clark in her bid for General Secretary at the United Nations in April, and this week 'unequivocally' pulled their support. Ah, politics.

Labour's Education Spokesperson, Chris Hipkins visited Rotorua as part of an educational tour of the rohe, spending time with Waiariki Bay Of Plenty Polytechnic, Kea St Specialist School, Lynmore Primary School, Ngati Te Roro o Te Rangi and the Rotorua Principals Association. I have a strong belief that our city has many hard-working educators who do their best to make sure that our young people get the best possible start in life and that learning never stops - Chris got to witness this firsthand. Check out Labour's innovative education policies for the 2017 general election at labour.org.nz.

And just while we're on the topic of educational success, much respect and congratulations go out to Raukura, the Rotorua Girls' and Boys' High School entry into the Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Championships who walked away with the top prize.

It took a lot of commitment and dedication from many people to pull off the win but with the stacks of talent that we have in this small part of New Zealand that we call home, how could we not have pulled off the win? Raukura, your win is our win. We share in your success.

- Tamati Coffey is the Labour Party spokesman for Rotorua.