1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: If you ask me whether I were back Defense Force 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: professionals over politicians on defense protocols and the way they 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: train their people. I back the Defense Force professionals every 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: single time. You may have heard over the weekend that 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 1: act in New Zealand. First, that's Winston and David have 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: asked questions of the Defense Minister Judith Collins on the 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: amount of Maori culture, law and language which is part 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: of the Defense Forces preparation for combat. They don't like it. 9 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 1: They say this too much. Now, this is not a 10 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: new complaint. There's always been a few people who have 11 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 1: had questions about all the karakia and all the harker. 12 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: It comes up from time to time and some see 13 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: this as against the old God king and country ideal. 14 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: But the Defense Force has always used mari tikanger to 15 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: build cohesiveness. They use the hakker to bring the forces together. 16 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: It's a war dance after all, and they're in the 17 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 1: business of war. They use karakia and povery and other 18 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,520 Speaker 1: ti kanger Maori a lot because a lot of Maori 19 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: serve in the Defense Forces proportionately more than any other 20 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: segment of the population. It's part of the Defense Forces 21 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: organizational identity. Because the culture is unique to New Zealand 22 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: and therefore beneficial and bonding the team. And when you 23 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: serve in a multinational military overseas, this differentiates us from 24 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: all the other grunts who have the guns. We're New 25 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: Zealand soldiers and we're a little bit different. The question 26 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: is whether all this multicultural woke stuff detracts from making 27 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: us fighting fit. Well, I'd like to see David Seymour 28 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: say that to a Maori sas officer. They will say 29 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: they're fighting fit. And look, we've had race based military 30 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: before the Maori Battalion and they made us proud and 31 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: the world took notice. The military has always embraced Maori 32 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: culture because they see it as a strength and not 33 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: a weakness. And it's only performative politicians in their shiny 34 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: suits in election year that sees Maori culture in the 35 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: Defense force as a problem and a possible vote winner. 36 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: And I mean ask any of the one hundred and 37 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: fifty thousand people who went to the Edinburgh Military tattoo 38 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: over the weekend, as they will tell you the Maori 39 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: stuff is well liked and is respected. And I'm looking 40 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: at my social media feed I can tell you that 41 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: a lot of people, former Defense Force people are a 42 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: little bit angry at this one. For more from Early 43 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: Edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live to News Talks it 44 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: Be from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.