One great thing about New Zealand is it is so small that our rellies are never too far removed.
Sometimes it can be surprising, such as when we found out my mother was named after King Te Rata Mahuta – she was Patricia Mary Te Rata Mahuta Kerr – because of close family connections. There was some kind of family secret that I never really discovered. But I do know there are Tainui bones in our family.
I remember the korowai under the house at my grandmother’s even although the obvious Irishness on her side dominated. I come from a family of Irish rebels and my Grandma was always staunch on this. She hated the English.
My paternal grandfather was a Northumberland miner, who came to New Zealand, joined the Labour Party and became an MP in the Peter Fraser government of the war years.
While I celebrate this ancestry today, when I was growing up there was a sense that we weren’t quite good enough. My mother, when we were growing up in a state house used to tell us that we were lower “middle class”.
My Dad was a socialist post-war, but ended up in a respectable accounting job for the Public Trust. My Mum was a school secretary and mother of four.
Today, my cousins are all around me. Tau Henare is one of them, on our Irish side. I’m bound to have relatives in the Mahuta family, and my partner’s Fenton relatives are everywhere.
Whether recently, or long ago, our families made the journey to Aotearoa seeking a better life. Politics has played no small part in the changes they would have witnessed.
I suspect today’s debates about poverty, the haves and the have-nots would resonate with them. There is still massive power and wealth in the hands of a few. There is arrogance from the better off and an attitude of blame that says that those we used to give a helping hand to through the welfare state have “made poor choices”. There’s a narrative that workers should be grateful for a job provided by beneficent employers, and take whatever they are handed out.
Yes, I know there’s no comparison to when my various ancestors made the journey here.
It’s good that my relatives can have different views – on the right or the left, even though we will often disagree. I don’t know about them, but the stories and struggles of my forebears have shaped my political opinions, and like them, my life experiences have confirmed them.
That’s why I’m Labour.
“… even although…” – was enjoying the read except for those twice grating moments.
One of the comments I remember you saying is that people who support national are disgusting.
“It’s good that my relatives can have different views – on the right or the left, even although we will often disagree.”
Do you share that view with family, or is it just the rest of us.
We only have approx 120 MPs in our parliament but I’m always amazed to find how many are related to each other, or to parliamentarians from the past.
Just goes to show what a tiny political elite we have in New Zealand.
Gotta say, I really liked reading this particular piece Darien. While I unfortunately can’t identify with having relatives so close by (my parents came to NZ in the late 80s, so the rest of my family are in England), I can really appreciate what you say in regards to the differing political views of family members. My Grandad on my mum’s side was a pretty strong Tory supporter, thought Thatcher was a “wonderful woman” whereas my Grandad on my Dad’s side (he was Irish
) was staunchly Labour, I believe, and labelled the Iron Lady “Thatcher the Snatcher” (something to do with removing school milk? I’m not 100% on the details…). I always had a fantastic relationship with my mum’s dad though, until he died a few years ago we were pretty close (well, as close as you can be when you’re on different sides of the planet!) 
I figure it might be from him that I’ve got my interest in politics in general 
(despite our probably differing views!)
“Margaret Thatcher, Milk Snatcher”…. is the saying, for ending free school milk for all children.
Thatcher, a disgusting woman if ever there were.
I have my dancing shoes ready and polished for when her time comes, even though I’m sur I won’t get to dance on her grave anytime soon.
As the saying goes, only the good die young.
That’s the one! Would it be slightly ironic if I said she was a cow?
“Thatcher, a disgusting woman if ever there were.
I have my dancing shoes ready and polished for when her time comes, even though I’m sur I won’t get to dance on her grave anytime soon.
As the saying goes, only the good die young.”
Classy. To think this blog posted about hate in politics and they allow you to blog about burning people and dancing on graves.
It must be a bitter world in which you live.
‘Cousin Tau’-my commiserations, but I guess you generally can’t choose your relatives! At least he does not wear the leather jacket and fingerless gloves of old like when I knew him as a clerical workers organiser.
@ Chris: the old saying about judging people by the company they keep applies in Thatchers case. Her best buddies-Ronald Reagan and Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet so reviled he was buried in secret to prevent desecration of his grave.
Few leaders that negatively affect families and children are well remembered. Something that John Key will ultimately discover with his ECE and other education cuts.
@Aliens – no class at all with that one. Are you trying to be funny? Although i do agree that only the good die young, probably explains why you’re still here.
What really winds Al up is that Thatcher’s Britain was considerably more successful that any other post war labour led government. (insert miners strike, steelworkers….yawn).
@Aliens you live a sad life.
I really had no idea you were related to Tau Henare. I cant say I saw that coming.
Ella the Irish chick!
!
Chris, Dave, Softy and Matthew
@ Spud – not quite, most people think I’m English due to my accent
(I was born in Auckland, but picked up my parent’s accent) – not that I always choose to correct them (depending on England’s performances in the World Cups… 
). Still proud of the fact that part of my heritage is Irish though! Just don’t identify with it as much as my Englishness 
@logie97 – thanks for being the grammar police – you’re quite right. Fixed now.
@chris – don’t hold onto that grudge for too long will you?
George, small political elite? If one MP has two parents, four grandparents, eight gramps, sixteen great gramps and 32 great great parents (to go back six generations) what are the chances of 120 current MPs and those hundreds of members of earlier Parliaments being connected.
I’d tell you to do the math- I can’t do it myself! But I’d be not be surprised if dozens were related to someone else.
It reminds me of the old question. How many people would you need to have in a group if statistically two were to have the same birthday, there being 365 days in a normal year?