On the first day of the new Parliament thousands gathered across the country protesting the new coalition Government’s plans to reduce te reo use in the public service and relook at the Waitangi Treaty principles, among other things.
It was a ‘National Māori Action Day’ led by Te Pāti Māori and iwi and the first protest of its kind just one week into a new government.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the protests as “pretty unfair” given his government hadn’t had time to embed its policies, which he says will “get things done for Māori and non-Māori”.
His Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka understood many of the issues being raised by the protesters, and said some of them had been raised with his colleagues by iwi leaders in the lead-up to the election.
“Maybe the language being used is a little more aggrieved, a little more elevated, but those concerns about inequities and dealing with historic settlements have been genuine,” he tells Newsroom.
Potaka believes the criticism is a “little bit premature”.
“I think it’s important to judge people by results, and not rely on the conjecture and the imagery that’s been beefed up over the past few days,” he adds.
But Kingi Tuheitia says he received a clear message from Māori across the country at the 165th anniversary of the birth of the Kingitanga movement last weekend, which has inspired his call for a national hui.
The gathering at Turangawaewae Marae in Waikato on January 20 will “unify the nation and ensure all voices are heard when holding the new coalition government to account,” Tuheitia’s chief of staff Ngira Simmonds says.
“There’s strong opposition to the Government’s statements on the Treaty of Waitangi, which could undermine decades of hard-fought justice and equality for our nation,” he says.
The purpose of the hui is to create a safe space for both Māori and non-Māori to come together and have their voice heard.
The Kingitanga will take the outcome of the hui to both Rātana and Waitangi Day commemorations for iwi, whanau, and politicians to hear.
As Waitangi Day fast approaches the national trust, which is in charge of the commemorations, is in the early stages of planning.
Its chairman, Pita Tipene, told Newsroom there will likely be three days of events from February 4-6.
The Governor-General will be welcomed to the Waitangi Treaty grounds with a powhiri on Feburary 4, followed by political parties on February 5, including the annual political talks, and then the traditional dawn service on February 6.
The Iwi Chairs Forum with the government is expected to be held the week before on February 1.
Tipene says Waitangi Day is about the “two partners – iwi Māori and the Crown – so it’s only right the Government is there”.
Luxon says it’s his “intention” to be there and acknowledged the importance of it but said nothing had been confirmed yet.
Newsroom understands Labour leader Chris Hipkins and colleagues intend to be in Waitangi for the three days – a reduction on the week Jacinda Ardern spent there during her time as Prime Minister.
Tipene says Waitangi’s doors are open for all political parties and he hopes it will be an opportunity for debate and discussion.
“Given the turmoil the country has found itself in around the Treaty principles, now is the time for discourse, debate and discussion.”
“The lead-up to Waitangi Day is always a tense occasion given the political issues – and that’s at the best of times without what is happening around the Treaty principles rights now,” Tipene tells Newsroom.
The Treaty principles legislation and select committee process agreed to as part of National’s coalition agreement with Act is the right discussion but the wrong format, he says.
“It’s largely a good thing but it shouldn’t be done through a political process because that causes angst.”
Tipene wants to see an organisation or entity that is more neutral lead the discussion, which he says would achieve the same outcomes but without the politics involved.
At Waitangi earlier this year all political parties were invited to speak on the verandah of Te Whare Runanga at the Treaty grounds, as part of a debate about race relations.
Seymour took part in that wide-ranging discussion.
Tipene says more of those sorts of discussions would better serve the country.
I have to ask the question – Why is there still a ‘Maori King’?
The Kingitanga was always just a Tainui concept that failed in the 1850s.
His ‘kingship’ is unrecognised by 95% of Maori tribes. Therefore he is really the ‘Tainui King’. Therefore he is simply a Tainui High Chief.
And the idea that the Tainui could get the iwi of NZ to ‘unify’, given their history towards many iwi, is laughable.
Its time to show a light on the realities in New Zealand or we will never find lasting solutions to real problems that are tearing this country apart.