Will’s Word: On the backlash to calling out Ferris’ comments

I want to start this, perhaps unusually, by sharing some of the feedback I got to Will's Word yesterday. I appreciate that, by the way.

In that piece, I called out Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris for criticising Labour over having Indians, Asians, Black and Pākehā campaigning for Peeni Henare. And let me tell you, some of you did not hold back, perhaps rightfully so.

One person wrote, and this was a humorous one, “Boohoo Justin Timberlake, go cry me river”. Another said “pick a side. With us or against us”. And someone even told me to “put my Pākehā voice away because [I'm] Black”.

On that last one, there's a bit of a technicality there, I am also Pākehā, so maybe that's where my voice is coming in. I'll say this, I love getting feedback in this role, I really do.

If you're a regular listener of Pacific Mornings, you'll know I always encourage it, left, right, in between. I value your opinions, as long as it doesn't hate speech.

But ultimately, I still think it was worth criticising, or at least calling out Ferris’ comments, because they were to me, unhelpful and wrong.

Watch Will’s Word on Facebook below.

I can sort of understand the sentiment he was trying to get across, but I think the way he delivered it was off. And doubling down, might I add, with an eight minute video, only reinforced how misguided it was.

Personally, I'm humbled that Indian, Asian, Black, Pākehā brothers and sisters stood alongside a Māori MP. To me, that showed solidarity for the value of Māori seats.

They weren't campaigning against them or trying to take them away. Let’s not forget, Ferris isn't the only politician stirring the pot. We've heard disgusting comments from Winston Peters with his dismissive scribble comments.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters once dismissed mataora, the Māori male facial tattoo, as scribbles. Photo/Joseph Safiti

We've heard David Seymour talking about blowing up the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. This kind of rhetoric is toxic. Social cohesion in this country at the moment is incredibly fragile.

And comments like these only make it worse, no matter what side of politics you're on. If it's racist, harmful, or xenophobic, it needs to be called out.

That's Will's Word.