Pokies and Pints

Perhaps the greatest threat yet posed against South Auckland is the steadily growing number of gambling joints and alcoholism brought on by the frequency of liquor stores and pokie machines in the area.

It seems to have become a fact of life for low socio-economic suburbs to become outfitted with such things, and South Auckland has also fallen prey to these resplendent machines and frosty mugs from hell.

Though certainly not a problem restricted to South Auckland, drinking and gambling rates, according to the Ministry of Health, have attained astronomical heights in this country.

Problem gambling and drinking are key contributors to the decay of this region of Auckland City, but once again has served to fuel the rampant stereotypes that harbour within the public sub-consciouness

The animated television comedy, BroTown, is one such example. Like The Simpsons, BroTown is a satirised account of the lives of Pacific Island students who attend St Sylvester high school, and stereotypes pertaining to this cultural group are prevalent throughout.

Many episodes make mention of poor parental skills, alcoholism, obesity and other such sensitive topics that exist as a part of the aforementioned public sub-consciousness. And though BroTown is a television programme marked by stereotypical character archetypes of all kinds, only the Pacific end of the spectrum is so pronounced.

Though the programme has served to "reclaim" certain negative associations made against the Pacific Island community, it makes light of some very serious issues that relate not only to Pacific Islanders, but to the wider South Auckland population in general.

Some stereotypes do more damage through their gradual acceptance, and while the show has garnered for itself a cult following and a differing view of South Auckland life, could still pose an obstacle to South Auckland's continued development.

Political Faux Pas

You may be tired of my whinging and complaining by this stage of my blog, but if you're still hanging in there after all that negativity, you're probably going to be able to handle a great deal more. Good for you, you crazy masochists!

I think it's high-time I addressed the Melissa Lee issue. I know, I know; this thing has been played out by the various media corporations dominating our airwaves for the past few months now.

But it's important to place concerted focus on Ms Lee's comments simply because it perfectly encapsulates the stereotypes that belittle South Auckland.

I won't bore you with details that you've probably been hit over the head enough with already, but Lee's comments are a clear indication of the views many Aucklanders share on their Southern neighbours.

But in denigrating and dehumanising South Auckland and its citizens repeatedly, how can we honestly want to initiate beneficial change and success for the area?

What about all the good things South Auckland has to offer, such as its phenomenal sporting achievements, or its rich cultural heritage? But no, these things leave news agencies with little real news to report, who choose to feature instead only its crimes and misgivings.

Murder and gang-related violence is a nation-wide problem, and is not a problem limited to South Auckland. Moreover, specific racist insults on various websites and other areas of media are aimed at Pacific and Maori peoples, which is an entirely more insidious concern altogether.

Whatever happened to our accepting and multicultural-centric attitude we so highly-touted only a few years ago, New Zealand? Have we forgotten what it means to be a Kiwi in the pursuit of global recognition, of wealth and freetrade agreements?

To achieve any real measure of change in South Auckland, we must first demonstrate that we have the tolerance and desire to actually incite it.

My Little (Crack-Den) Corner of the World

South Auckland; a regional melting-pot consisting of a population comprised of recent migrants and a strong Pacific community - and the object of much ridicule and marginalisation. But is it really the gangland, crime-infested hell that many media reports have led us to believe?

To be sure, this fragile and high-risk region suffers from many problems, ranging from literacy issues, sky-rocketing crime rates, and drug and alcohol abuse all contributing to a negative image that continues to make people apprehensive about this vulnerable Auckland burrough.

But if we continue to paint South Auckland as a hopeless, criminal wasteland, what will this do to its residents and their opinions of themselves and their suburb?

This comes on the heels of a purported Auckland "Supercity" Council merger, which entails the conciliation of all Auckland's many council districts, including the Manukau City Council board that represents South Auckland.

Very worrying considering recent developments, which includes news that the Manukau City Council will divide its Auckland Airport shares amongst other Councils come the merger, and other reports that have surfaced concerning the Manukau City Council's own coffers and the redistribution of one-hundred million dollars of its own accumulation!

Surely funds of this measure would be better spent on the above issues facing South Auckland, not in the hands of other communities whose ratepayers already amass massive sums of money for their own Councils?

But wouldn't you know, they've even hit South Auckland in the pocket by using its ratepayers' hard-earned cash to build a freaking stadium. A stadium! Great, now we can watch the ABs while our city falls apart around us and buy ridiculously over-sized, finger-pointing foam hands to distract us while they hijack our wallets.

This is simply unacceptable; instead of investing much-needed financial assistance in our young South Aucklanders, supporting their future so they can support us in our twilight years, we've thrown away our money on an opulent and ostentatious toilet bowl.

Out here, in this drug-addled criminal oasis, we need greater financial support to cradle burgeoning new initiatives that will be of significant importance and aid to our community.


List of Web References:

1. Gemstones: http://youngnz.org.nz/gemstones/index.php

2. Ministry of Health: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf?OpenDatabase

3. Frogblog: http://blog.greens.org.nz/

4. Uncyclopedia: http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

5. BroTown: http://www.brotown.co.nz/index.html

6. Stuff.co.nz: http://www.stuff.co.nz/

7. New Zealand Herald Online: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/

8. National Business Review: http://www.nbr.co.nz/

9. Tuaman - David Tua Website: http://www.davidtua.net/

10. pacificEyeWitness.org: http://pacificeyewitness.org/

Reference List:

Ministry of Health. (2008). Release of Problem Gambling Statistics 2007. Retrieved September 26th, 2009, from http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/problem-gambling-intervention-services-2007?Open

nzherald.co.nz. (2009). St John's six-year battle over pokies nears big day. Retrieved September 26th, 2009, from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-region/news/article.cfm?l_id=117&objectid=10596081

NewstalkZB. (2009). South Akld labelled drink driving "black spot". Retrieved September 26th, 2009, from http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=162033

TVNZ. (2009). Lee makes formal apology after comments. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/lee-comments-condemned-silly-2738069

pacificEyeWitness,org. (2009). Media Release: Melissa Lee's Comments Appal South Auckland MPs. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://pacificeyewitness.org/2009/05/14/media-release-melissa-lees-comments-appall-south-auckland-mps/

The Press/Stuff.co.nz. (2009). Body found on Christchurch beach. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2906946/Body-found-on-Christchurch-beach

Scoop.co.nz. (2007). NZ's Growing Gang Problem Puts Reputation at Risk. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00115.htm

TWM. (2009). Racism in Aotearoa-NZ. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~sai/NZracism.htm

Uncyclopedia. (2009). South Auckland. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/South_Auckland

New Zealand.com. (2009). New Zealand-Peace Capital of the World. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/media/press-releases/2009/6/tourismnews_nzpeacecaptialofworld_pressrelease.cfm?rss

New Zealand.com. (2009). The People. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/culture/culture-the-people.cfm

TVNZ. (2007). Gangs of South Auckland: The Appeal. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411365/1232384

Frogblog. (2008). South Auckland - the real issues. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/06/28/south-auckland-the-real-issues/#comment-47910

The University of Auckland. (2005). Overwhelming response to free reading classes in South Auckland. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://web.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/about/news/articles/2005/01/0011.cfm

Yahoo! Answers. (2009). How dangerous is Auckland? Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090917225447AAV2L73

Craccum. (2009). Maori Seats on the Super City Council Unpacking the Criticisms. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://www.craccum.co.nz/?tag=supercity

Auckland Stuff.co.nz. (2009). Super fears on supercity. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/2301697/Super-fears-on-supercity

The National Business Review. (2009). Manukau City Council to raise $100m but entire Supercity will benefit. Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/manukau-city-council-raise-100m-entire-supercity-will-benefit-109622

nzherald.co.nz. (2009). Should Auckland ratepayers fund a $85m Rugby World Cup base on Queens Wharf? Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/your-views/2009/6/19/should-auckland-ratepayers-fund-100m-rugby-world-cup-base-queens-wharf/?c_id=None

Gemstones. (2009. What Is Gemstones? Retrieved September 25th, 2009, from http://youngnz.org.nz/gemstones/index.php