Colonisation Still Exists - Sharples

Maori party co-leader Pita Sharples believes there is still an ongoing process of colonisation happening in New Zealand.

On TVONE's Agenda today Dr Sharples said colonisation of Maori culture is still occurring;

"People like me would say that colonisation still exists in that we can't get the priorities of Maori - [they] are just put in the back burner."

Dr Sharples said a culture of colonisation is infused within many different aspects of government and society.

"They say one thing, but in fact Maori and Maori langugage things are low on the agenda, very low."

He said the solution is to direct money to where it's most needed;

"Let's break out of that and put funds in that direction and its not racial targeting at all, its dealing with the past and bringing things forward."

INTEGRATION IMPORTANT SAYS MIGRANT

Guest speaker at this weekends 'Banana's NZ Going Global Conference' Antony Young believes integration is more important today than ever given New Zealand's growing migrant community.

On TVONE's Agenda Mr Young said succeeding in a new country is about accepting part of the new culture;

"You've got to recognise you're coming to another country someone else's country and I think working in it and being sensitive to local culture is really important."

He said there is a growing tendency in New Zealand for immigrants to keep to themselves rather than integrate.

"You tend to get less of a melting pot, they talk about New York being more like a tossed salad than a melting pot."

Mr Young said when he was growing up in Wellington there weren't many fellow Chinese around.

"When I was a child you didn't have as many chinese friends, you mix with your neighbours and friends at school."

ENDS