Living On The Fault Line - Print

Living On The Fault Line:
Aotearoa New Zealand's Bicultural Future

By John Bluck

A compelling and timely exploration of Aotearoa New Zealand's bicultural tensions, advocating for an open and honest Pākehā voice in shaping the nation's future.

A thought-provoking reflection on:

• The evolving role of Pākehā identity in Aotearoa
• The challenges and opportunities of a Te Tiriti-based future
• The impact of the coalition government's policies on Māori-Pākehā relations
• The growing ethnic divide and its implications for national unity
• The need for constructive dialogue between Pākehā and Māori communities
• The shared cultural experiences that bind and divide Aotearoa
• How non-Māori can engage meaningfully with Te Ao Māori

Features

• Written by a respected author with deep engagement in bicultural discussions
• Builds on the themes of Becoming Pākehā (HarperCollins, 2022)
• Addresses contemporary political and social anxieties around Te Tiriti
• Encourages a constructive and confident Pākehā voice in national conversations
• Provides insights from real-life encounters and national discussions

Paperback, 136 pages, 152 x 229 mm
ISBN: 9781991103758
Quentin Wilson Publishing, NZ (2025)

[4 due in stock 28 Feb 2025
Then allow 2 weeks]

Description

This book is about unfinished business.

When John Bluck travelled Aotearoa to launch his acclaimed Becoming Pākehā: A journey between two cultures (HarperCollins, 2022), he encountered many who felt the term Pākehā no longer fit or who were deeply anxious about the future of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Since then, political shifts have intensified the uncertainty, exacerbating ethnic divides and igniting tensions in Māori-Pākehā relations.

Living On The Fault Line addresses this pivotal moment in New Zealand's history, examining how Pākehā navigate their identity amid shifting political and cultural landscapes.

Bluck explores the crisis that has triggered Māori anger and Pākehā silence, calling for an honest, constructive, and confident Pākehā voice in shaping Aotearoa’s future.

Divisions persist – some dream of a Tiriti-based future where te reo Māori and tikanga are interwoven into everyday life, while others fear such changes as unfair or imposed.

In this engaging and thought-provoking work, Bluck challenges Pākehā to participate in national conversations without defensiveness or detachment from history.

As one early reviewer notes, Living On The Fault Line is “an eloquent and impassioned plea for a Pākehā voice that is confident enough to join the debate about this country’s future.”

Timely, bold, and deeply reflective, Living On The Fault Line invites all New Zealanders to wrestle with the challenges of biculturalism and to seek a shared identity that honours Te Tiriti while embracing Aotearoa’s unique cultural entanglements.

About the Author

John Bluck is a writer, former Anglican bishop, journalist, and commentator on bicultural issues in Aotearoa New Zealand. He has spent decades engaging with the intersections of faith, culture, and identity, and his previous book, Becoming Pākehā, received widespread acclaim for its candid and insightful perspective on Pākehā identity in New Zealand.

Contents

1. Introduction: The Fault Line We Live On
2. The Crisis of Identity: Who Gets to Be Pākehā?
3. Te Tiriti and the Political Landscape
4. Māori Anger, Pākehā Silence
5. A Nation Divided: Competing Visions of Aotearoa
6. Building a Shared Future: Dialogue, Identity, and Action
7. Conclusion: Keeping Faith with Te Tiriti