I grew up in NZ and have a pounamu/greenstone toki I inherited from my parents.
I miss New Zealand dearly and want to wear it, but I feel that as a white person whose great grandparents came to new Zealand from Ireland, it would be cultural appropriation?
I’m unsure and haven’t lived in New Zealand for over a decade, so I don’t know the stance on crackers wearing Maori symbols.
Speaking with a Maori friend on this, and as someone of pakeha descent myself, Its generally ok for Pakeha to wear generalised NZ symbols as long as they aren’t those of a particular nation (Iwi) and you’re actually wearing them honorably as they should be worn.
Just be aware, you’re representing both Pakeha and Maori and should show due deference and respect to the traditions you’ve adopted. Some Maori might still disagree but you’re just gonna have to wear it.
A greenstone should only be worn as a deeply special gift, and I think this counts.
Unrelated to your post but my boss is from New Zealand and I’m wondering what I can say to annoy her? I’ve just been left making jokes about the Commonwealth in general.
Comparing New Zealand to Australia.
Saying the All Blacks suck at rugby
Calling her British
Calling her British
Well I already do that. I’m sure you guys eat gross food with goofy ass names like “figgy waffle taddles” too.
Yes, perfect. Ask her to say “Fish and Chips” too
What do they call it “floppy wops and crispy wiffles” or something else that sounds totally made up?
Australians make fun of the way we say it. They think it sounds like fush and chups when we say it.
Shit, why am I giving you ammo against me. I have a kiwi accent still
fush and chups
Lol, look at this fucking dirty encrusted owl eating fush and chups!
DAMMIT
Mock her for Australian stereotypes. Generally refuse to believe New Zealand isn’t part of Australia, point out that they have the same flag.
Sorry I can’t answer your question, but I just wanted to say that that’s some Dirt_Owl lore I was unaware of!
For what it’s worth, apart, of course, from tā moko, it always seemed to me like some aspects of Maori culture could be seen among the pakeha, and it never felt like blond cornrows. I suppose the only person who could answer that question would be someone of Maori descent. I reckon it would certainly be bad if you hadn’t at least grown up in Aotearoa, though.
I loved every single moment I spent out there in Dunedin, truly the least bad western country. Miss it every day.
I just wanted to say that that’s some Dirt_Owl lore I was unaware of!
Yeah I know, every day I doxx myself more and more.
Some fed out there is going to be very disappointed when they find out I’m just a boring nerd
Some fed out there is going to be very disappointed when they find out I’m just a boring nerd
I for one think that they’ll be very confused when they expect an owl and instead find this:
I’m Australian/white and my predominantly Māori/Pasifika team of coworkers got me a greenstone as a sendoff present when I left the workplace. So I don’t think there’s any issues with it