Serious Question: What is the best way to discuss important issues that need addressing in NZ which might involve race somehow, without the discussion devolving into either blatant racist tirades or dog whistle politics?

Overall I agree with you and the thrust of your post. But feel like the way you've worded your examples of 'perfectly true comments' isn't right. There's too many generalisations.

The Maori commit a disproportionate amount of crime.

Is that a fact? We don't know for sure who is committing the most crime. We only know who is being arrested/charged/convicted/imprisoned etc. From those statistics, we can say something like 'Maori are make up the majority of the prison population'. That's not racist, that's a statement of fact. We could also conclude from a variety of stats that Maori are committing a disproportionate amount of crime, but not with 100% certainty.

Also I wouldn't say 'The Maori', just 'Maori'. For some reason you put the 'The' in front, and it just sounds racist lol.

The culture of Chinese people make them seem rude/brash in NZ.

To whom? I think it's better this way: Some New Zealanders view certain Chinese cultural norms as brash and rude. Or maybe The culture of Chinese people *can** make them seem rude/brash in NZ.*

Some Indian men view and interact with women in the wrong way.

This is subjective, so you've got to be explicit about the definition of 'wrong'. Some things like rape, incest and murder are close to universal human values. But other things like burqas are more contestable.

Some Asians lack confidence and skill when driving.

This seems fine to me.

White people are privileged in NZ and consequently some act entitled.

Not all white people...This sentence needs the qualifier 'Some' at the start.

/r/newzealand Thread Parent