Bred in South Auckland by Glenn Colqhoun I drive a car that is falling apart. There is a bog in the body. There is rust in the doors. Occasionally it does not have a warrant. Sometimes I sleep in large rooms full of people. I eat too much fried bread. I am late to meetings. I go to housie. My nose is flat. I say Raw-tore-loo-uh. Some people think I am a bloody Maori,

Bred in South Auckland by Glenn Colqhoun I have been to university. I have a student loan. I photocopy my tax returns. Most mornings I read the newspaper. I make lists of things I have to do and like to cross them off. I cut apples into quarters before I eat them, Then I cut the pips out. I put my name on things. I listen to talkback radio. I use EFTPOS. Some people think I am a typical pakeha.

Bred in South Auckland by Glenn Colqhoun Last week I drove into a red light, I did not slow down at a compulsory stop, I changed lanes on the motorway and did not use my indicator. When I was a boy I went to see Enter the Dragon, I took one lesson in kung fu. My parents made me do my homework. My brother gave me Chinese burns. I like beef and pork flavoured two minute noodles. I light incense when the house smells. Once I dug a garden. Some people think I am a blasted Asian.

Bred in South Auckland by Glenn Colqhoun When I was a boy I learned to swear in Samoan. I went to school in Mangere. I played rugby in bare feet, Sometimes I shop at the Otara markets. My family come from overseas. I used to work in a factory. Once I helped cook an umu. When it is summer I wear a lavalava. I drink pineapple juice. I like to eat corned beef. Some people think I must be a flaming coconut. I think I am the luckiest mongrel I know.

Questions on poetry. Answer the following questions as full sentences that include the question – What is a mongrel and why has the poet used it in the poem? What is this saying about the poet’s identity? – Do you think the poet agrees with the stereotypes presented? – What is the poem about (what is its theme or main idea)? – How did you relate to this poem? Could it be set elsewhere in New Zealand? What sort of areas? – What is the ‘tone’ of the poem? i.e feeling or mood created. How does the writer create this mood?

Bred in South Auckland. Extension or homework questions. Is it better to have an identity individually or as a part of a group? (this may take a paragraph to answer fully) Do you think it is more important for us to identify with our culture(s) of origin or that of New Zealand as a whole?

Stereotypes poem. You could do this based on your ethnic group (Maori, Pasifika), nationality (Kiwi, Australian, English), or school identity (e.g Awatapu, Freyberg, PNBHS, PNGHS). If you learn a language, you could do the traits of that group too as identity is also what we learn and pick up from others around us. Write the sub-heading ‘What makes me a typical ’ List the features of stereotypes that you think fit your character If you belong to two racial groups do this for both groups If you feel you belong to a different group try and use your prior knowledge to compile a list