^ It was late last night and I had to go to bed :/
Originally posted by Welfhard
She never even visits this country and her influence is completely invisible.
She has visited a few times, just not recently.
Originally posted by Welfhard we still feel very British as a nation because we don't really have a national identity of our own yet -
unless you are Maori, but I'm of German-English descent.
We do have a national identity, but it involves being open to accepting some things Maori which it appears you are not want to do...I quite happily
call myself a Pakeha because it locates me in Aotearoa/New Zealand and is a point of difference from the Eurocentric Caucasionisation that some people
seem to want to hang on to.
I don't consider it to be an insult as some misguided people do, I think it has evolved into a workable label for people who were born in New Zealand
but not of Maori descent (I even consider myself Tangata whenua as I was born here and this is where my Mauri resides, not in some country way across
the sea.
I am descended from Scots and English mainly, but I have no allegiance to the English or Scottish Crown.
My identity is carried in the rivers, in the clouds, in the rain and wind and sunlight , in the Mountains and the inhabitants of this land.
Originally posted by WelfhardWe kiwis tend to have a longing to visit England/UK & Ireland; it's seen as a motherland to us, and so in
our British-ness and our affinity towards the UK, we tend to like the Royals as well. I'm sure this is why we tend to identify internationally as
part of the commonwealth.
It depends on which kiwis you talk to....those that don't/won't/can't accept that we are New Zealanders and have our own identity, or those that
want to stay (for some reason) under the apron strings of a system and monarchy that has repeatedly shafted us over the years.
I don't like the Royals from Britain.
We have our own indigenous royalty here which is a beautiful and vibrant acknowledgment of Maori Culture which is also important to recognise when
talking about New Zealand's cultural identity....
Kore rawa e rawaka te reo kotahi
[edit on 23-9-2009 by aorAki]