Native Maori should ... "smoke, gamble, fight and eat fatty foods"

[kiwitt]

Author stands by controversial health book

26/09/2005 13:39:13

The co-author of a widely-condemned book on Maori health is standing by his call for Maori to smoke, gamble and eat fatty foods if they so choose.

'Maori Health' was published by the Kotahitanga Community Trust, one of South Auckland's largest Maori health providers.

It claims the health system is racist and opposes activities Maori enjoy. It says Maori can smoke, gamble, fight and eat fatty foods if they want to.

The book also describes Maori health workers who say otherwise as brainwashed "house niggers" and "health Nazis".

Co-author Peter Caccioppoli says the book's purpose is to inform Maori there are other options to what the Health Ministry preaches. He says the idea is to encourage Maori to make their own choices, and admits that includes even ignorant decisions.

He says Maori shouldn't be made to feel bad about things they enjoy.

He is now planning a book on Maori in the education system.

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So the Health Ministry should not be advising how people should live their lives, even though the costs of their lifestyle choice costs the ministry in surgery and other specialist work to keep them alive. If they choose to ignore the advice they should also not seek help from the Ministry when they get sick. That would be a fair call, don't you think.