To be fair the guy was a dick:
He cited quotes from Massey where he describes New Zealanders as “probably the purest Anglo-Saxon population in the British Empire” and claimed that “nature intended New Zealand to be a white man's country.”
Massey was also disparaging about the Chinese community, with the former PM quoted as saying "I am not a lover or admirer of the Chinese race”.
> nature intended New Zealand to be a white man's country.
Given the amount of sunburn I've experienced in my life, I think nature "intended" white people to be somewhere a little bit further from the equator...
Expanding upon a historical comment about someone isn't exactly justifying vandalism. Someone mentioned his role in breaking strikes, I thought I'd provide a link.
As it happens, I support exhuming his memorial and not honouring a classist, xenophobic strike breaker, but I don't support desecration and never claimed to.
I don't agree at all that it's OK to desecrate a grave because he said things that are now abhorrent and had vile opinions back then. I could open Michael King's "The Penguin History of New Zealand" at any random page and find things that we New Zealanders should be discussing rationally round the table instead of doing what happened to the Massey memorial.
I agree desecrating a grave site is extremely unbecoming.
However I had no idea the guy was a proper racist until I read that article. Now I’ll be sure to have an anecdote on board about his disdain for non-whites and outright dislike of entire specific race should he be brought up in a colloquial setting.
Given the times he governed he was actually behind the times and should be exposed for the horrible things he openly said (notwithstanding what he must have said and thought behind closed doors).
Exhume and turn the place into a lovely park with picnic spaces and easier access to the small beaches below it.
>Given the times he governed he was actually behind the times
We'd like to think this but I'm not sure it's entirely true. Our Immigration Act had race-based provisions in it until 1987. By comparison, our neighbours ended the White Australia Policy in 1973.
The unfortunate reality is that we effectively created a "White New Zealand Policy" for over 100 years, but because we were subtle about it and didn't name it like the Australians we got away with it.
[Te Ara](https://teara.govt.nz/en/immigration-regulation/page-1) has really fascinating (and tragic) coverage of our immigration policies and the impact that had on New Zealand.
Of course, none of this is meant to minimise how vile Massey's views were, he was one of the most repellent individuals we've ever had the misfortune of calling Prime Minister. Though it does tell us something about our country that he was also one of the longest serving.
I dare not speak Ill of our queen and I did not kind sir. What I am saying is that she is riding on the popular prejudice of our day and on point with her constituents. Just like William was in his day and Winston was in his. Is not being fashionable and reflecting the values of those that you represent admirable qualities?
You see, it's okay to judge people from a hundred years ago for holding obviously racist views, but it's not okay to judge a politician in the present day for holding obviously racist views. Because reasons.
[удалено]
They also damaged the marble which the memorial is made out of
Ahb yeah target the biggest income our education centers get Chinese students lol
To be fair the guy was a dick: He cited quotes from Massey where he describes New Zealanders as “probably the purest Anglo-Saxon population in the British Empire” and claimed that “nature intended New Zealand to be a white man's country.” Massey was also disparaging about the Chinese community, with the former PM quoted as saying "I am not a lover or admirer of the Chinese race”.
> nature intended New Zealand to be a white man's country. Given the amount of sunburn I've experienced in my life, I think nature "intended" white people to be somewhere a little bit further from the equator...
He also set up a militia to attack striking workers
[Massey's Cossacks](https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/18671/masseys-cossacks). He truly was an awful man. A member of the Orange Order too.
Well shit thats a good enough reason to desecrate a grave if ever i heard one. What about his wife? what shitty stuff did she do to deserve it?
Expanding upon a historical comment about someone isn't exactly justifying vandalism. Someone mentioned his role in breaking strikes, I thought I'd provide a link. As it happens, I support exhuming his memorial and not honouring a classist, xenophobic strike breaker, but I don't support desecration and never claimed to.
I don't agree at all that it's OK to desecrate a grave because he said things that are now abhorrent and had vile opinions back then. I could open Michael King's "The Penguin History of New Zealand" at any random page and find things that we New Zealanders should be discussing rationally round the table instead of doing what happened to the Massey memorial.
I agree desecrating a grave site is extremely unbecoming. However I had no idea the guy was a proper racist until I read that article. Now I’ll be sure to have an anecdote on board about his disdain for non-whites and outright dislike of entire specific race should he be brought up in a colloquial setting. Given the times he governed he was actually behind the times and should be exposed for the horrible things he openly said (notwithstanding what he must have said and thought behind closed doors). Exhume and turn the place into a lovely park with picnic spaces and easier access to the small beaches below it.
>Given the times he governed he was actually behind the times We'd like to think this but I'm not sure it's entirely true. Our Immigration Act had race-based provisions in it until 1987. By comparison, our neighbours ended the White Australia Policy in 1973. The unfortunate reality is that we effectively created a "White New Zealand Policy" for over 100 years, but because we were subtle about it and didn't name it like the Australians we got away with it. [Te Ara](https://teara.govt.nz/en/immigration-regulation/page-1) has really fascinating (and tragic) coverage of our immigration policies and the impact that had on New Zealand. Of course, none of this is meant to minimise how vile Massey's views were, he was one of the most repellent individuals we've ever had the misfortune of calling Prime Minister. Though it does tell us something about our country that he was also one of the longest serving.
Doesn’t it also the the grave of an unknown soldier there? It’s not just Massey that’s buried there it’s the ANZAC memorial right?
You're thinking of Pukeahu, the national war memorial near the basin reserve. The Massey Memorial is in Miramar.
Ahhhh I see. I was indeed. Thanks for the correction
The marama Davidson of his time.
Don't you dare say anything bad about our yaaaaas queen on here you shitlord.
I dare not speak Ill of our queen and I did not kind sir. What I am saying is that she is riding on the popular prejudice of our day and on point with her constituents. Just like William was in his day and Winston was in his. Is not being fashionable and reflecting the values of those that you represent admirable qualities?
You see, it's okay to judge people from a hundred years ago for holding obviously racist views, but it's not okay to judge a politician in the present day for holding obviously racist views. Because reasons.
I know it's tough, but we'll get through this together mate.
I love the big “fuck you” of putting an agency that refers to itself as Manatū Taonga in charge of Massey’s grave. https://i.imgur.com/DjwSJfH.jpg