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Selwyn Muru [Herewini Murupaenga] introduces a round table discussion in the 1YA Auckland studio, chaired by James Boswell. The participants are three leaders of young Māori opinion: Danny Harris, former secretary of the Stormtroopers gang and now a youth worker; Taura Eruera, chairman of Ngā Tamatoa council and Syd Jackson, political studies graduate. Also taking part are Dr Ranginui Walker, a lecturer in the Department of University Extension and John Tapiata, officer for Māori Education.
They talk about the social, cultural and educational influences on young Māori and issues arising out of colonisation, urbanisation and land confiscation.
Syd Jackson and Taura Eruera talk about the need for a change in pākēha attitudes towards Māori. Danny Harris talks about Māori contributions in the two World Wars and the little good they saw from this. He says urbanisation is the future of Māori as the land they have been allowed to retain is not large enough to be farmed economically.
Dr Walker says Māori are being exploited economically. Syd Jackson dismisses complaints about reverse racism and fears of Māori "gangs" and urban marae. Danny Harris talks about the good that can come from gangs. John Tapiata asks if some young Māori are anti-pākēha.
They discuss their experiences of the education system, racism, exploitation of Māori motifs and culture for profit. Danny Harris talks about feeling he is a 'brown-skinned pākēha" and the need to rediscover his language and Māoritanga. They talk about pakeha misunderstanding of aspects of Māori culture, such as the belief that they 'sleep together" when staying on marae.
Dr Ranginui Walker summarises the discussion at 22:00.
The discussion then moves on to employment and discrimination. Dr Walker talks about the need for management training for more Māori. Danny Harris and Syd Jackson talks about racist attitudes in the education system, such as names being deliberately mispronounced, Māori history being denied and little Māori language being taught.
Syd Jackson says Māori will not succeed in education until their values are reflected in the education system. They discuss the need for employers to recognise Māori cultural differences, allowing for leave for tangihanga and so forth.
John Tapiata talks about firms with a large Māori and Polynesian workforce need to think about how they can help get the best out of them through greater training. He asks what young Māori parents should be doing to help their children to improve their economic status.
Syd Jackson says pākēha are the ones who need to 'do more' - not Māori.
Māori church schools are achieving better exam pass-rates for their students because they are including biculturalism in their curriculum.
They talk about how Māori can feel more comfortable in the urban environment, how can the freedom and security they feel on a rural marae be translated to the city? They discuss whether an urban marae can feel the same.
Syd Jackson talks about Ngā Tamatoa members visiting marae and feeling very lost because they have not learnt their language or culture.
John Tapiata summarises the discussion.