Is it fair to charge a $10 white person fee for a music gig?

I have had some good news... apparently because of my race, I get to pay less to attend music events organised by a group called Browntown than my non-Māori/Pasifika friends! 🤯🤯🤯

Chris Lynch reports from Christchurch that tickets for a Sunday Session event featuring King Kapisi and others was initially advertised with different tiers for pricing based on race.

“Early bird (for all Tangata): $15, Tangata Moana (for our Māori and Pacific Tangata): $20 and Tangata Tiriti (for our allies): $30.”

Browntown was founded last year by Devyn Baileh, Grace Colcord, and Shea Wātene (pictured below) and promotes itself as "a platform for cultural engagement aimed at addressing racism".

Browntown founder and director Grace Colcord (pictured left), allegedly of Malie and Afega descent, was defiant in the face of criticism of their racist ticket pricing. She told Chris Lynch that it was "in line with our kaupapa" and "pricing models based on specific groups aren’t unique to this event. Many venues and organisations offer discounted pricing for children, seniors, students..."

Not quite the same thing, mate.

The group has received $35,000 in funding from Creative New Zealand's Pacific Arts Fund. Another case of arts funding going to blatant racism.

What Browntown haven't got is an understanding of the Human Rights Act 1993 and how discrimination works! Or maybe they just don't care?

A Pasifika Community Leader who didn't want to be named - probably because he would be harassed for daring to speak out - said: 

“This is a blatant attempt to manufacture victimhood, and Creative New Zealand fell for it. Charging higher prices for white people doesn’t foster unity; it drives a wedge between communities."

I couldn't agree more. We don't need this racist crap in New Zealand. What's next? Separate drinking fountains?

The manager of the bar Muy Muy, where the event is scheduled to be held, was unaware of the discriminatory ticketing and told the organisers to amend the pricing or face cancellation of the event.

“At Muy Muy, we have a great sense of acceptance for all cultures and traditions. We support all communities equally,” Bugz Munasinghe said.

Chris Lynch says that by yesterday afternoon, the wording for the ticket prices had been changed to “early bird, $15.00, Alofa Access Ticket $20.00 and Ally Access Ticket $30.00.”

Not really an improvement.

You and I both know that if the ticket pricing was arranged the other way, and Māori and Pasifika were expected to pay higher prices, there would be an uproar. 

I guarantee you, Chris Lynch wouldn't be the only brave journalist reporting on it as is the case here. TVNZ would have a reporter stationed outside the bar calling for it to cancel the event. Stuff would have a journalist tracking the three Browntown organisers and writing full exposes on them and their immediate families. The Spinoff would spontaneously combust.

It sickens me that this kind of thing is happening in New Zealand. It isn't 'progressive'; It is divisive.

Shout out to Chris Lynch for covering this story. If only we had more journalists like him.

Before I sign off, I just saw a video that is doing the rounds on socials of Christopher Luxon telling some people at the airport (I think) not to worry because he is going to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. He's going to "spike it"!

More than 300,000 submissions and our Prime Minister doesn't give a flying you-know-what about considering a single one. He has made up his mind and our opinions don't matter.

No wonder the polls aren't looking too good. Don't forget you can still send him a message on our Scaredy Cat Christopher website telling him to support the Bill or lose your support.

When I was at school we called people like him 'try hards'. Trying to fit in with people who blatantly don't like them.

Someone tell the Prime Minister all the cool kids believe in equality.


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