A Dunedin school recognising New Zealand's cultural diversity by flying a range of flags should be commended, not subjected to racial attacks, Race Relations Conciliator Joris de Bres says.
The flags flying at North East Valley Normal School include New Zealand, Tino Rangatiratanga, the Confederated Tribes of New Zealand and one mostly associated with sports teams, being a silver fern on a black background.
Dunedin businessman Geoff Portman was so offended by the "so-called Maori flags'' that he emailed the school, saying the array of flags sent a mixed message.
"... what this country needs is some national pride and a sense of belonging,'' the email, obtained by the Otago Daily Times, said.
"I suggest you read the attached message, and then review your confused teaching.''
The attached email, from an acquaintance of Mr Portman, was entitled "I wish I was a Maori'' and said Maori had special privileges, such as organisations and services.
"You rob us, convert our cars, rape our women and bash our elderly. But if a white police officer shoots a Maori or a Maori gang member, or assaults a Maori criminal running from the law and posing a threat to society, you scream racism,'' it said.
Mr de Bres said he was aware of the second email, and "deplored'' it.
"It's being sent around by people who subscribe to a very anti-Maori view,'' he told APNZ.
"It's highly misleading, dishonest and inaccurate.
"I deplore the fact that this stuff is circulating on the internet, I think it's very sad when people start sending sensitive material like that to a school principal and I'm very heartened by the fact that the school has taken a constructive approach to it.''
The school's flying of different flags seemed to have triggered "some attitudes he (Mr Portman) has towards Maori'' when they were, in fact, representative of all New Zealand.
The author of the "I wish I was a Maori'' email had sent it on his work email and Mr de Bres commended the school for contacting the man's company, which had censured the author and changed its email policy "to make it clear that that was unacceptable''.
He also praised the school for teaching what is in the national curriculum.
"... the teaching which he (Mr Portman) appears to attack is based on the New Zealand curriculum, which includes valuing diversity, valuing human rights and honouring the Treaty of Waitangi,'' Mr de Bres said.
Mr Portman, a manager with Export Link Otago, was standing by his comments but said he regretted forwarding the email as it left the name of the person who had sent it to him.
That person had been the subject of abuse, as well as receiving a written warning from his company, he told the Otago Daily Times.
He had sent the email in good faith and on behalf of his local community, and had hoped the flags would be taken down.
"We are all one people here and this division is not good for the country.''
When asked if was Maori, Mr Portman said he had connections with Waitaha but had chosen not to enrol with the tribe.
Asked if he had Maori blood, he replied: "I guess I have.''
North East Valley Normal board of trustees chairman Steve O'Connor said the school flew flags that represented the diversity within the school, and would continue to do so.
- Sharon Lundy/Hamish McNeilly
