Let’s start with the kerfuffle at the Taite Music Awards.
I was pleased to see Aldous (Hannah) Harding win the Taite Music Prize for her latest album, Party. I’ve been very keen on her since her eponymous first album, Aldous Harding, came out in 2014 and have been encouraging my music interested mates to listen to her ever since.
She’s a self-styled gothic folk singer-songwriter from Lyttleton. It’s amazing the talent that has come out of Lyttleton in recent years including Marlon Williams (Aldous’ recent ex-partner) and The Eastern to name a couple.
However, the drama wasn’t around Aldous but The Headless Chickens. A band from the 1980s and 1990s, they were presented the Classic Record Award for their ground-breaking 1987 album, Stunt Clown. Most of you might recognise Cruise Control off that record with Fiona Macdonald’s vocals, which were new to the band’s sound at that time.
The band’s founder, bass guitarist and frontman Grant Fell died in January after a long battle with cancer.
As they were being presented with the award one of his bandmates scattered some of his ashes on the stage from a small vial.
The band said they wanted their old mate to be with them when they received the award.
Grant’s widow Rachael Churchwood, who supported the ashes sprinkling and is of Maori descent, said Grant wanted his ashes scattered in places he loved and he loved being on the stage playing music. She pointed out Grant was of Ngapuhi heritage but they didn’t adhere to every tradition and music was also a big part of his identity as well.
She and the band were responding to the inevitable outcry from Maori about it not being in line with tikanga. Many others also felt it wasn’t right.
When I first heard of the action before knowing of the outcry I thought it was a neat tribute to their mate. I’m respectful of the dead, graves and ashes but don’t have a feeling of tapu myself.
But on reflection, if you are going to cause a visceral response at a public function from folk who do place great store in tapu and tikanga, I’ve changed my mind.
It does go both ways and I know there are folk who don’t like the wero (challenge) or haka where near naked men aggressively confront others but they tend to keep those views to themselves.
Perhaps in hindsight a better idea could have been to take the ashes up with them but keep them contained as the Monty Python fellows did with Graham Chapman’s ashes when they had a stage reunion.
Or maybe just be content that Grant was with them in spirit and in the music that was played.
The other moral dilemma to strike me was Israel Folau’s controversial views that all homosexuals are destined for hell.
Folau is the highest paid Australian rugby player and got grief for his comments against marriage equality last year.
I’m not religious and Folau very much is but I’ve been told by my churchgoing friends the Christian God is a forgiving, compassionate and loving one but apparently not in the church Folau prays in.
Now we should all have the right to express our own views on morality or anything else we care to share as a basic human right. Freedom of expression.
But there are many people out there struggling with the concept of their own sexuality and some of them are vulnerable young folk and Folau’s position gives his comments wide coverage.
By targeting a marginal group such as gays, freedom of expression can easily be seen as hate speech.
Just because we all have the right to free expression, sometimes it is a better and a kinder thing to keep your own thoughts to yourself.
