The Paul Henry thread

**Grubber** · 6th October 2010, 19:42

Originally Posted by Genie

I switched on the TV this morning to catch the early news...and eek, it's just so wrong with him not there. Even though he can be an annoying snot....I like what he says and well, Mr Fijian/Indian may well have been born in Auckland, but he so does not "look" like a Kiwi. But then again, what is a Kiwi (not the bird one).

This country has changes somewhat over the last 30 years...we are a melting pot of nationalities and some of us over 40's do need to change our outlook....I know when I went to school there was only a handful of non-white children there

.

Nowadays, the schools are full of many varied cultures, it's time to embrace them all.

You smart lady! So true. What we can learn off some of these fascinating cultures is amazing. The food for a start is damn fine.
This si the way of the world these days and we might as well get used to it. It aint that bad really!

**SPman** · 6th October 2010, 20:16

I used to laugh at (with) the 3rd & 4th generation Chinese Kiwis being taken for immigrants when all the Asian immigration started back in the '90s - jezz did some of them get pissed off !!! They were more Kiwi than most of the people doing the derogatory "fuck off back to China" routine!
I guess - if you look different to perceived norms, there'll always be some nincompoop having a go at you - it's about time people realised NZ ain't an exclusively euro-centric culture with a token maori component any more, pull their egos out of their arse, get used to it and get on with life.

**Number One** · 6th October 2010, 21:14

Originally Posted by scumdog

Yup, same here!

PC is for losers, nimbys, soft-cocks, crawling bum-lickers and "I have a right" minorities...

WOW I am quietly warmed by the fact that there are far more of us on here saying similar to the above than what I had expected! (admittedly I have only read as far as this particular post). I also think it's rank that maori politicians pulling similar but I believe far more premeditated and dangerous race card bullshit get treated with a ho hum poor them approach but things are VERY different if someone else has something to say.

I didn't like the apparent 'undertone' in what he said and I didn't appreciate the comment about Susan Boyle 'having the look of a retard' however his job isn't to be boring as shit, completely robotic and lacking in personality and guess what else...we don't even have to like or agree with him....ooooooooooooooo hard concept for so many to grasp...get the fuck over it already join a fricken knitting circle!

I reckon it was just a glib, brain not engaged, verbal diarrohea moment and even if he meant it like all the soft cocks have tried to infer he meant it so what? TVNZ sucks and frankly I find that guy and a few select others are the only interesting spots on the channel...breakfast loses all it's appeal without him and my mornings are far more mundane and less engaged.

Getting all up and arms about what a dude on tv's personal thoughts and possible opinions might be is kinda sad. It's just the cheeky darky comment all over again. I'll admit I wondered similar when Sir A was appointed GG myself...not like I was mixing in circles that had awareness of his Lawyering and Judging and other high faluting achievements and contributions to NZ.

I say bring him back and if you don't like it = learn something about yourself from that and either switch the channel or chill the fuck out!

B TW FTR: I'm from foreign decent and I don't think for a second I or anyone else for that matter has any 'real and true' right to anything. I agree with Crocodile Dundee in the first movie!

**Number One** · 6th October 2010, 21:36

Originally Posted by Winston001

By contrast Newsboy (Jeremy Wells) gets away with much edgier material and no-body gets upset. Why? For one thing Eating Media Lunch is on later at night away from children, and Newsboy has style: just the right combination of cheek and innocence to avoid crassness.

OOOO AND don't forget he's a cutie with fab skin tone!

**MIXONE** · 6th October 2010, 21:56

It's a no brainer to me.I think he is a dick so I simply don't watch him.

**Berries** · 6th October 2010, 22:49

Originally Posted by SPman

Talked aborigines with any australians, lately????

Nah, but then after 14 years in New Zealand I have only heard Te Reo Maori being spoken once, and that was on a marae.

All of us on here have ancestors who were subjugated by invaders. Go back to the English, Spaniards and Portuguese, or the Vikings, Normans, Mongols or the Romans, and Picts etc. History in the new world is just more recent. The Australian Aborigines suffered terribly, tens of thousands of years of culture just wiped out. Truly shocking what happened to them. My comment was related to my personal view of NZ as an outsider. You have race based sports teams and race based political groups which to me seems divisive. I don't believe a country will truly progress and have different races and cultures living in harmony while you have this officially sanctioned apartheid.

Ka kite.

**SMOKEU** · 6th October 2010, 22:51

Originally Posted by Berries

Nah, but then after 14 years in New Zealand I have only heard Te Reo Maori being spoken once, and that was on a marae.

Same here, regarding the Maori been spoken only on a Marae comment. I've been here 13 years, where are you from?

**ducatilover** · 6th October 2010, 23:00

I've heard Te Reo spoken on more occasions than I could name. I think many people will be highly surprised by the amount of fluent Te Reo speakers, hell, I have a mate who is fairer skinned than myself and he has dedicated years of study to the Mari culture, history and language. I was recently at a Te Tiriti lecture and there were multiple student who were very educated and well pronounced in terms of speakeing Te Reo.
When I was a kid in Wainuiomata I had friends growing up and learning it as a second language, some had to speak it at home.
I don't see why people think this is un-common?

I also like Mr Henry, I have a very crude sense of humor and he arouses it

**SMOKEU** · 6th October 2010, 23:02

Originally Posted by ducatilover

I've heard Te Reo spoken on more occasions than I could name. I think many people will be highly surprised by the amount of fluent Te Reo speakers, hell, I have a mate who is fairer skinned than myself and he has dedicated years of study to the Mari culture, history and language. I was recently at a Te Tiriti lecture and there were multiple student who were very educated and well pronounced in terms of speakeing Te Reo.
When I was a kid in Wainuiomata I had friends growing up and learning it as a second language, some had to speak it at home.
I don't see why people think this is un-common?

I also like Mr Henry, I have a very crude sense of humor and he arouses it

Either way, there are more Mandarin speakers than those who speak Maori in this country.

**ducatilover** · 6th October 2010, 23:04

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

Either way, there are more Mandarin speakers than those who speak Maori in this country.

I would actually love to see the facts on this, I certainly agree with you though. Quite an interesting subject.

**ducatilover** · 6th October 2010, 23:06

The 2006 census found Te Reo to be spoken by 157,110 people, making it the most common language in New Zealand after English.

From Wiki.
I stand (sit) corrected.

**SMOKEU** · 6th October 2010, 23:19

Originally Posted by ducatilover

From Wiki.
I stand (sit) corrected.

But how many people speak it fluently? It is very difficult to get a real figure on this, as many Maoris probably claim to speak the language fluently, but then we first have to define the definition of the term 'fluent'.

**ducatilover** · 6th October 2010, 23:25

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

But how many people speak it fluently? It is very difficult to get a real figure on this, as many Maoris probably claim to speak the language fluently, but then we first have to define the definition of the term 'fluent'.

Touche, I see what you mean. Even half the reclusive tossers I come across (mind the double entendre) don't seem fluent in English.... So I would be a bit pessimistic about that statistic too.

**motor_mayhem** · 6th October 2010, 23:34

I find it disparaging to know that a good proportion of NZers, if not a majority, seem to find public ridicule the best form of entertainment.

In my mind you have to either think that both Paul Henry and Hone Harawira are entitled to their free speech or they are both racists and should be sacked. If you think one is but not the other then you are a hypocrit. IMO they are both racists and should be sacked, unfortunately the people who control Hone's job and priviledges are also racists(Maori Party) or gutless pussies (National Party). But because one person is not punished for their bad deeds doesn't mean we should let our standards slip either. Given though that where Henry's was thoughtless and juvenille, Hone's was intent with malice which was worse.

SMOKEU as far as I knew PC s a phrase used to depict when social idealism suggested you shouldn't tell people they are failing at all/Everyone wins etc. Fortunately the majority saw thought that ridiculous idea and cast it out. But your use of the term seems to draw parallels that PC is when you are telling someone they are failing without mocking them rather than telling them they are not failing when they are.