A few years ago I packed up my things, left Auckland and moved to the city of Tauranga. This was partly due to a work transfer and also the fact I was constantly getting told how great the this city was. ‘The weather is amazing' ‘The beaches are stunning' ‘The people are friendly and very welcoming' I was excited.
What I discovered however was an extremely insular city with a racist underbelly, full of christian fundamentalists who are terribly homophobic. Over the last few weeks and months these points have been well demonstrated in the numerous letters being printed in this paper (which I might add have been rather one sided) Here we are only a few days out from Christmas and people are still bleating about race relations and the Treaty. Come on Tauranga Move on. Enjoy your beaches, appreciate precious time spent with loved ones, embrace the fact wealthy Aucklanders will be flooding your city and injecting vital dollars into your economy over the summer months.
One last thing, I often get asked ‘What's the best thing about living in Tauranga'? I pause... and then come to the unfortunate conclusion, that for me the best thing about Tauranga is State Highway 2... heading North.
Gareth Joyce, Welcome Bay.
6 comments
wanting equality is not racist
Posted on 15-12-2012 17:09 | By Captain Sensible
Gareth, I am a born & bred Kiwi but I am not entitled to the same privileges and handouts that other born & bred kiwis are getting. The reason is because of the colour of my skin. Only Maori are entitled to dozens of race based privileges and handouts... because they are Maori. It won't be long before the best beaches that you want us to enjoy will be "Maori Only" and if you are too simple to read the huge capital lettered writing on the wall, then you maybe don't deserve the equality I want for all kiwis. Ignoring these apartheid laws will not make it go away. I am not satisfied being a second class citizen in my own country. If you think this problem does not exist in Auckland then you are in for a real shock one day.
Insular city with racist underbelly
Posted on 16-12-2012 16:13 | By algail
I agree with Gareth about Tauranga in some ways. There are something like 80 churches in the Tauranga district so there will be a lot of people here who believe they are Christians. We moved to Tauranga for basically the same reasons as Gareth and we have found basically the same plus the rip off culture of the district. In such a so called Christian community I have been astounded by the over pricing in Tauranga and I believe that greed is not one of Christ's teachings. Being a Christian in its simplest terms means to me following the teachings of Christ. We moved here three years ago and only one neighbour has set foot in our house in spite of invitations ,we have only had one invitation to visit a neighbour. Our neighbours can hardly bear to talk to us. Tauranga people are very friendly on the surface but deep down they don't want to really get to know anyone outside their circle. Two Christian beliefs are missing in Tauranga (1) Love they neighbour as thyself (2) Judge not lest ye be judged). In Tauranga if you don't go to church then not many people want to know you which is most unchristian in my opinion. My wife even went to a meeting for people who are finding the same difficulties in Tauranga as Gareth and when it came time to be seated my wife sat down first and blow me down they all sat down in their wee groups and left my wife sitting on her own, so even within groups there are cliques. I have had several people relate to me how they have joined groups in Tauranga and had to leave because nobody would talk to them and they were at all times kept at arm's length and in islotaion. One poor lady we know of has been living here for 8 years and she hadn't made a friend yet. Alastair Bethlehem
@ algail & Gareth
Posted on 17-12-2012 20:54 | By Captain Sensible
FYI, I am an atheist and never been to church in my life nor have any of my friends. And in my travels I seldom see many people at church when I drive past. Not quite sure exactly what you are implying nor why.
Insular city with racist underbelly
Posted on 18-12-2012 13:55 | By algail
Please read my posting again aging no mention was made of or about you or your beliefs I was agreeing with you about the insular nature of the district your comments implied. I don't care what your religion is or that you are an atheist but I would be interested in who your Optometrist is because I can show you churches in the district where there are 100s of cars parked in the grounds of churches and the streets round the church and no it is not an assumption that the people are at the churches it's a fact because at other times no cars are parked there. One church in particular only has a few houses in the street I refer to the Baptists Church in Bethlehem where parking at times becomes a problem in the street. Perhaps you drive past the Churched when nos ervcie is taking place. Alastair Bethlehem
Agree...
Posted on 20-12-2012 13:15 | By kclifton
I know what you mean Gareth. I have returned to the BOP after living in the Waikato for 9 years and was also disheartened by the 'Letters to Ed' that I have read week after week. But it is mostly the same few people repeating the same nonsense. I am thankful that most people I know don't feel this way so I have just decided to do exactly what you suggest. I am cherishing being back by the moana and spending more time with whānau and friends. The Bay is a great place to live and I am going to enjoy it. Meri Kirihimete me ngā mihi mō te tau hou!
cowboy and bartender
Posted on 24-12-2012 16:04 | By silverfox
A Cowboy and a Bartender walk into a church just before services were to begin. This motley crew of jeans, t-shirts, boots, tattoos, and hats were spotlessly clean. In their hands were worn-out bibles. The church they entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church they had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories. As the Cowboy and Bartender took their seats, the others moved away from them. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed them. They were appalled at their appearance and did not attempt to hide it. As they were leaving the church, the Pastor approached them and asked if they could do him a favor. ‘Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship.' They each assured the Pastor they would ask God that question. The next Sunday, they showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirts, boots, and hats. Once again, they were completely shunned and ignored. The Pastor approached them and said, ‘I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our Church. ‘We did,' each man replied. ‘If you spoke to God, what did he tell the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?' asked the Preacher. ‘Well, Sir, God told us that He didn't have a clue what we should wear. He said He had never been in this Church before. wonder which one of the 80 churches it was maybe all of them?
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