A quick look at the New Zealand Herald website where this story was published shows a level of incredulity. One reader wrote that they felt safer in their new home in Australia than in South Auckland from where they had moved.

The Global Peace Index criteria with well-functioning government and sound business environment at the top gives some insight into the hallmarks of ‘peacefulness’. Respectful of human rights and tolerance and good relations with the neighbours are third and fourth. The criteria also include high levels of freedom of information and the acceptance of others.

From an international perspective, New Zealand does have relatively stable and well-functioning government and its business environment is largely sound. The country has good relations with its neighbours which are also Pacific islands (so the borders are all water) and tolerance of difference may well relate to New Zealand’s relative emptiness – its citizens are not forced usually to live cheek-by-jowl with their neighbours.

But in terms of social justice, a closer look at the country’s chance of maintaining its ‘peacefulness’ is required. This means taking into account the reversed promise to return land to Tuhoi, or the wrangle over the foreshore and seabed. There is no account of the inequity in the government’s latest budget which many commentators say will boost the gap between rich and poor. Disproportionate representation by Maori in the health and justice systems continues to boost inequality and life expectancy is still lower for Maori.

All of this is manifest in high levels of domestic violence which could well blow New Zealand’s peacefulness out of the water.

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Patricia Kane
Jun 14, 2010 12:11