1. Scientifically, there is very little distinction- I mean genetically the difference between a pakeha and a maori is absolutely miniscule, smaller than the difference between any two pakeha. Any distinction made between races is therefore scientifically arbitrary- which means it's more important what we think and feel than what science says.
2. There's a difference between ethnicity and race- I wouldn't say my ethnicity was the same as the ethnicity of a Norwegian, but I'm about 50% norwegian by blood, although I'm a third-gen new zealander.
3. The census isn't really about immigrant statistics- as I understand it the reason census asks this question is ti find out what we identify with ethnically. While I might describe myself as Caucasian, I don't really identify mysefl with Caucasians as a group.
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Date: 2006-03-07 04:14 am (UTC)1. Scientifically, there is very little distinction- I mean genetically the difference between a pakeha and a maori is absolutely miniscule, smaller than the difference between any two pakeha. Any distinction made between races is therefore scientifically arbitrary- which means it's more important what we think and feel than what science says.
2. There's a difference between ethnicity and race- I wouldn't say my ethnicity was the same as the ethnicity of a Norwegian, but I'm about 50% norwegian by blood, although I'm a third-gen new zealander.
3. The census isn't really about immigrant statistics- as I understand it the reason census asks this question is ti find out what we identify with ethnically. While I might describe myself as Caucasian, I don't really identify mysefl with Caucasians as a group.
Just my two cents. :)