Fi #AotearoaNZ

Cameron Slater has expressed an opinion questioning why Heeni Hoterene doesn't use Rongoā Māori for her cancer treatment. This appears to be an attempt by Cameron to assert a misguided sense of racial superiority stemming from a narcissistic viewpoint. It's important to note that when British settlers arrived in Aotearoa in the 1840s, their understanding of cancer was limited. Their knowledge was not more advanced than that of Māori; they too held superstitious beliefs, attributing cancer to demonic forces or divine punishment for sin or lack of church attendance. The field of medicine, including cancer treatments, is not a British invention. The British diaspora is not the primary contributor to cancer treatment advancements; many significant developments originate from countries like Japan and China, with medications often produced in India. Heeni sought accommodation at the Cancer Society's Domain Lodge, a taxpayer-funded organisation, where she unfortunately experienced racial profiling and discrimination. It raises the question of why her tax contributions should support an institution that lacks cultural competence. Additionally, the colonial Tohunga Suppression Act prohibited traditional Māori healing practices, effectively barring Māori healers and relegating Māori to second-class status, without access to public healthcare. The ability to import medicine from abroad is not a technological breakthrough that necessitates Māori gratitude towards British New Zealanders. Thus, if Cameron Slater expects appreciation for the collective scientific advancements in medicine contributed to by all of humanity, He needs to get a cat scan because a portion of his anatomy is missing his brain.