Let me at the outset apologise for the generalisations this piece is bound to contain. These are my impressions and perceptions of a community and society. I well expect to look back on this in the years to come and perform a modicum of self-flagellation at my naivety.
I am often confronted by kiwis with the question “Why did you choose New Zealand?” I use the term confronted, as I find it such a direct question, almost loaded! The difficulty, in reality, is that I have guilt. Guilt at feeling: I could have!? Should have!? done more! I could have!? Should have been more!? This white guilt, that permeates simple curiosity and results in guarded, carefully structured answers.
The kind of answers that say, “for my career security and opportunities for my children.”
The response is one which explores the cause of that guilt, that carefully considered answer.
“But isn’t the job market good? I have heard people chop and change their jobs heaps?” The honest response, including current unemployment rates, leaves the enquiring Kiwi in no doubt how tough times are for all in a country that should have been better off!
“Yeah! Less crime here, hey?” further explores the ravages of our selfish past and leaves me feeling I may have “run away”.
Then I pick up the paper and read of a body discovered in a suitcase in Auckland harbour! Gang wars in Wanganui! The Easter weekend road death toll! That crime is up 7% on the Kapiti Coast, year on year!
Yes, crime statistics are available and published, scrutinised and swept under the carpet. People get murdered, it is on the news and in the papers, but we do not talk about it.
The road death toll for the Easter weekend is up on last year. It is news, it is in the paper, but not discussed.
Kapiti crime, up 7%! The population is up 12%! So nothing to discuss.
David Benson-Pope, Minister of Education is alleged to have walked into a girls changing room at a camp, 15 years ago, to give them the hurry up! It is in the news, in the papers and BOY! This we talk about!
The Kiwi ask “Why New Zealand?” and I feel guarded. They have a moral high ground in exploring my white South African privilege. The same privilege that provided me the opportunity to immigrate, to have the experience and the loot! They, after all, helped topple the “Krokodil” though I do not believe they would ever say so outright in this context.
Not hard to understand then, this countries obsession and being spurred to action in those dark days, when all we knew was the kicking game! So easy to pretend nothing of gravity requires our attention, the road death toll is up on last year, a staggering 5 in total, but hey, so many more cars on the road. The police have announced measure to curb the gang problems in Wanganui, so it is sorted.
But that David Benson-Pope! He has gotta go! No, he has gotta stay! 3 weeks of it.
Why New Zealand?
Hell, the Kiwi understands exactly how insignificant their troubles are, though real, in a world in turmoil. We know it is going on and we manage to maintain an identity, without becoming embroiled.
Why New Zealand?
For now, David Benson-Pope is my biggest concern! So you tell me……….
Why not?!