THE ‘G’ WORD

It’s 18 months since Meng Foon was appointed race watchdog. He’s spent much of that time travelling the country hearing stories of racism and other injustices. He heard more last week in Parliament, when Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer used her maiden speech to call on the Crown to apologise for genocide against Māori. Not only does he back her comments, Foon also has a list of problems requiring urgent Government action.

Foon, 60, spent nearly two decades as Mayor of Gisborne, where 49% of citizens identify as Māori. The child of Chinese migrants, who worked as market gardeners and greengrocers, he was born and raised there. He had a traditional Chinese upbringing and was expected to help with the family business, keep his head down and work hard. His marriage to Ying, 40 years ago, was arranged by his parents, Liu Sui Kai and Ng Heng Kiu.

It was while working in the