They won't work for Filipino or Mumbai wages

Photo c/o otakimail.co.nz

Based on the 2013 Census in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Filipino ethnic group comprised 40,347 people of 1.0% of people that stated an ethnic group living on NZ on 5 March 2013.  There are some quarters however, who believe that the number is closer or more than 50,000.  As a people, we are hardworking, law-abiding, contributors to the economy of this country.

Statistics show that 5.6% of the Filipino population work in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry.  Most of the Filipinos whom I met, who worked in the dairy industry were graduates of veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, forestry, agriculture, and the like.  I've not made any scientific study of this but it seems that dairy farmers and workers are educated and with qualifications. That is why, this statement by Member of Parliament, Winston Peters (NZ First Party) is baffling and disturbing to me:

He believes that immigrants are another reason why there are young people on the dole in the regions. “We are aren’t paying our young people enough.  They won’t work for Filipino or Mumbai wages.  We’ll cut taxes so farmers can pay their workers properly in the future.  The difference between us and the Filipinos is that if you ask a young New Zealander to fix a fence because the post has fallen over they know what to do.  They know how to change the back end of a tractor too.  Or change a tyre.  But does a Filipino?"

I feel this is an unfair, biased, even racist remark on Filipinos who wake-up at the crack of dawn to work in the dairy farms.  All Peters has to do is to talk to Kiwi dairy farmers, managers, and owners, to get the real picture of how our kabarangays, kababayans, perform in the workplace. The runner-up to the most recent prestigious Dairy Awards were Filipino spouses Carlos and Bernice delos Santos.  Trustpower recently bestowed upon the Filipino Dairy Workers in New Zealand Inc. (FDWNZ) as Supreme Winner in the Trustpower Ashburton District Community Awards.  There are many more unsung Filipino or Pinoy heroes and heroines in all industries in this country.

I don't know were Peters got his data.  I've met him only once, in 2008, when he spoke at a forum in the University of Waikato.  He didn't impress me much, more so, now.  May tawag sa kalye, sa taong kagaya n'ya = epal.