Welfare and Single Māori Mothers in the Media : Symbolic Power And
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Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. Welfare and Single Māori Mothers in the Media: Symbolic Power and the Case of Metiria Turei A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Albany New Zealand Ahnya Martin 2020 1 2 Abstract This thesis explores the case of Metiria Turei (former Green Party co-leader) who sparked considerable media outrage when she announced publicly that as a single mother receiving welfare decades earlier, she had taken on flat mates without notifying Work and Income New Zealand. Metiria made this announcement in an attempt to highlight current problems in the welfare system and to promote the need for systemic change. The resulting media coverage offers an interesting case of how symbolic power is used within media spaces to shape constructions of issues of poverty and welfare, and the people involved. This study involved two main empirical elements. The first was a systematic analysis of 366 television, radio and online items that made up the media public controversy surrounding Metiria’s admission. The media analysis documents how a hegemonic anti-welfare perspective came to dominate corporate news media coverage, which was contested via various social media platforms. I document how the growing pressure from conservative news commentators worked to silence both Metiria Turei and her supporters who were active on social media in promoting the need for structural changes in the welfare system. In the second element, I selected 12 key items from the media coverage of the controversy and presented these to two focus groups involving eight wāhine Māori (Māori women) who had been recipients of welfare (sole purpose benefit or domestic purpose benefit). The focus group analysis reveals how these participants challenged the narrow neoliberal framing of news coverage of Metiria Turei’s admission. Participating wāhine readily identified and deconstructed the [ill]logic of the hegemonic perspective that was dominating coverage. These participants pointed to considerable problems in the welfare system that needed to be addressed, but which, despite a few notable exceptions, were not covered in any substantive way in the corporate news coverage as a whole. Overall, this thesis showcases the changing power dynamics between corporate news and social media regarding issues of welfare and morality today. 3 4 Acknowledgments Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisors, Professor Darrin Hodgetts and Dr Pita King for their endless support throughout the period in which I have worked on this master’s thesis. Darrin has not only been there to support me academically to develop as a scholar, he has also mentored me in the transition from being a stay at home mother studying at postgraduate level to a developing scholar and now into the role of Graduate Assistant for the School of Psychology, Massey University. Pita has provided me with endless encouragement throughout, he has not only helped me academically he has also shown me that as wāhine Māori who was raised in poverty and hardship who failed to achieve any high school qualifications that I too have the ability to succeed and work towards an academic career. I would also like to thank my other academic mentors, Melissa Rangiwanaga, Dr Shiloh Groot, Dr Kathryn McGuigan and Myles Ferris who have helped in the background both academically and culturally. Secondly, I would like to thank my participants, my research would not have been possible without them. Eight wāhine Māori who showed courage and determination to be part of a research project which serves to work towards the betterment of wāhine Māori. It was both a pleasure and honour to have worked with you all. Thirdly, I would like to thank my whānau for their support as I worked to complete a master’s thesis. My grandfather, who is a retired psychiatrist has always believed in my abilites to pursue my goals. A man who himself lived through poverty and hardship during WW2 in England, yet achieved his goal of becoming a psychiatrist. My grandmother provided me with emotional support, a loving woman who sadly passed as I worked to complete my master’s. My father, who has been influential in showing me that nothing can hold me back. My mother, who has also supported me emotionally, and provided encouragment in hard times during this process. My mother in law who has supported me by helping out where she could. My siblings who have supported me, helped me with childcare and encouragment. My husband who has had to put up with the wide range of emotions, the highs and the lows of supporting a wife who is undertaking a master’s degree. He has not only helped significantly with the childcare, but he has worked tirelesly to support us financially. I am forever grateful for his dedication and support. 5 Lastly, I want to acknowledge the financial and cultural support that has made my master’s research possible. First, is Te Rau Puawai (TRP), a Māori workforce development programme funded by the Ministry of Health and hosted by Massey University. TRP provided more than just financial assistance towards my fees, they also provided an entire academic whānau who have been fundamental in ensuring that being Māori is both accepted and celebrated within academia. Specifically, I would like to thank Byron Perkins. Byron has been influential as a mentor, he has helped to open doors as I progressed as an academic. He has also guided me during times of confusion during my academic journey. Also Waikato Tainui for their financial contribution towards extra costs associated with postgraduate study outside of fees. 6 Table of Contents Abstract 3 Acknowledgments 5 Table of Contents 7 Table of Figures 9 Chapter One: Introduction 11 The rise of the welfare state and Māori struggles to gain access 18 Media and welfare coverage: symbolic power in the mediapolis 23 The present study 28 Chapter Two: Method 31 Introducing Kaupapa Māori theory, research and narrative inquiry 31 Compiling the media case 34 Engaging with other women like me: Relational and ethical concerns 36 Focus group discussions 41 Analysing the media controversy and focus group responses 44 Chapter Three: Media Analysis 47 Plot Synopsis 49 Advancing the hegemonic position via corporatized news media 54 Early attacks and efforts to discredit Metiria 55 Vilifying supporters and framing people in need as undeserving criminals 60 The role of other conservative commentators in intensifying the pressure 64 More balanced Media Deliberations 69 Mediated Resistance (Social & News) 75 Chapter Conclusion 84 Chapter Four Focus Group Analysis 88 Wāhine Māori respond to Metiria Turei’s admission of benefit fraud 88 Wāhine Māori respond to conservative commentators 94 Wāhine Māori respond to balanced media representations of the Metiria Turei case 106 Wāhine Māori respond to social media deliberations of the Metiria Turei case 112 Chapter Five: Discussion 121 The functioning of the mediapolis in welfare debates 122 Wāhine Māori respond to conservative commentators: The material consequences of elites exercising their symbolic power 126 Turning tales of terror into tales of joy within the mediapolis 130 Reference List 133 Appendices 150 7 8 Table of Figures Figure 1 Doctored image depicting Metiria a fraudster (Whale Oil, 2017) .................................... 63 Figure 2 Young man with devastate tattooed on his face (The New Zealand Herald, 2017) ......... 63 Figure 3 Tax vs Benefit fraud bar graph (Action Station, 2017) ..................................................... 67 Figure 4 Twitter post sharing the hashtag #IamMetiria (Karehana, 2012) .................................... 76 Figure 5 Twitter post sharing solidarity with Metiria by sharing the hashtag #IamMetiria .......... 76 Figure 6 Twitter post by the aunties sharing the hashtag #IamMetiria ......................................... 77 Figure 7 Image of Metiria as a survivor (Kupu Hou, 2017) ............................................................. 78 Figure 8 Cartoon depicting beneficiaries after Metiria's disclosure (Morris, 2017) ...................... 79 Figure 9 Facebook post by Patrick Gower commenting on Metiria's disclosure (Gower, 2017) ... 80 Figure 10 Facebook post by Patrick Gower commenting on exceptional journalism (Gower, 2017) ........................................................................................................................................................ 82 Figure 11 Blog post by Leonie Pihama Māori academic (Pihama, 2017) ....................................... 83 Figure 12 Conservative commentators who covered the Metiria Turie disclosure (Daily Blog, 2017) ............................................................................................................................................... 84 9 10 Chapter One: Introduction Media are institutions. And as institutions, they can, and do, act both justly and unjustly. They can act unjustly by: denying or distorting the voices of others; by refusing airspace to the indigenous, the diasporic, the marginal and the minority; by systematically foreclosing for commercial or political reasons, on the alternative, or the critical or more simply on the uneconomic, the unpopular, or the ideologically offensive (Silverstone, 2007, p.144). I