Statistics are not as sexy as headlines that shout “Welfare State Killed Kahui Twins” or some such, but did you know that in Northland last year there were almost 15,500 crimes recorded and only 7,500 resolved? Yeah I know you’re thinking – so what? Is crime going up, going down or just going round and round?
Remember these are statistics, so probably any meaning is possible. What is probable is that most of you reading this will be thinking at least one or a mix of the following things.
§ Pakeha colonization is the root cause of most of the crime around here.
§ Maori commit most of the crime around here.
§ I don’t feel as safe today as I did ten years ago.
§ I’ve never felt safe.
If you can truly say you didn’t think anything remotely like any of the above you either have a well-developed case of ignorance or a highly evolved sense of perspective. Well, commiserations to the ignorant and congratulations to the perceptive. Feel free to stick around. But this is probably not about you.
As for the rest of you – your thinking might be right or it might be wrong. You might be Ngati Kahu, Ngati Pakeha or Ngati Kore. I don’t care. But if you’re honest enough to own your thoughts and you’re willing to do something about either verifying or altering them, then this is about you.
First off – if you aren’t happy with the way you think things are, than change them. But try not to be an ‘-ist’ about it. Racists, ageists, sexists, tribalists – even herbalists – they all made up their minds once a long time ago and they aren’t ever going to do anything that might put them in the way of having to change it. ‘-Ists’ are about as useful to Ngati Kahu as feathers on a frog. So, please, don’t be an ‘-ist.’
Second – if there are people in your neighbourhood you don’t know much about, try meeting and getting to know them on their terms. If you live in the Ngati Kahu rohe, which is roughly between Kaitaia, Mangamuka and Kaeo, and you haven’t done it yet, find out when the local Marae or the local Ratepayers Association next meets and get on over there. You’ll find an everyday life going on that’s as different to yours as Paris, Rarotonga or Rome. Call us here on 4083013 and we’ll put you in touch with the marae. Sorry we can’t help you with the Ratepayers Association because that’s still on our personal list of different people we have yet to meet. But please, don’t let your differences stop you from experiencing our differences.
Third – if you ever feel bad about something you hear one of your mates say or do to anyone different to them, have the courage to front them. Mahia nga mahi ki runga i te tika, te pono me te aroha. What you sow you will reap. So please, don’t be a coward.
You know, one definition of crime is ‘an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare.’ That includes letting ignorance, prejudice and cowardice guide the way you live your life. So if you don’t like things the way they are, it’s not about crime statistics. It’s about you.
Hei konei Hei kona.
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