Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Government ministers were told that the state of the Māori nation was at the “highest level of concern” during whaikōrero at Rātana Pā.
Kiingitanga representative Rahui Papa made the comment in his closing remarks as the final speaker on the haukāinga side.
“We keenly listened, Prime Minister, to the State of the Nation speeches that were held over the last couple of days. Well, I’m here to tell you that the state of the Māori nation is at the highest level of concern that it has been for a whole lot of years.”
Kiingitanga representative Rahui Papa made the comment in his closing remarks as the final speaker on the haukāinga side. (Source: 1News)
Speaking in English for much of his whaikōrero, Papa directed his comments to Luxon.
“Prime Minister, it’s not about your way or the highway. It’s about working together for the betterment of all. But not to diminish or minimise the contributions of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te iwi Māori, because in our view, they are a must have, not a nice to have, a must have.”
‘Te Tiriti o Waitangi is sacrosanct’
Papa started his kōrero by reminding the prime minister and “all your colleagues in Parliament” about the hīkoi that took place in November that saw tens of thousands march down the streets of Pōneke.
“It wasn’t just tangata Māori, it was the ethnic diversity across this country, tangata tiriti included, all having the same message: Te Tiriti o Waitangi is sacrosanct.”
Both National and NZ First took the opportunity in their respective whaikōrero to reiterate their stance of not supporting the bill.
“National won’t support the bill — it will be voted down, and it won’t become a law,” said Luxon during his own speech.
Besides the Treaty Principles bill, there were quite a few other pieces of legislation that were causing Māori consternation, Papa said. He didn’t expand further, only to suggest the Government “work together with all communities, especially tangata whenua and tangata tiriti” to forge “the right pathway” into the future.
Critical of changes to Waitangi Tribunal
He also called out Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka on the recent changes to the Waitangi Tribunal.
“We heard the justifications, and ka pai for the justifications, the perspective though is that there are a number of mātanga of te ao Māori that have been cast aside.”
Earlier this week, the minister announced new members to the tribunal, including former ACT leader Richard Prebble; Philip Crump, a former lawyer and blogger who wrote under the alias of Thomas Cranmer; councillor Grant Hadfield; former minister of defence Ron Mark; and the first Pasifika dean of law Professor Tafaoimalo Tologata Leilani Tuala-Warren.
Three highly respected Māori academics – Professor Rawinia Higgins, Professor Tom Roa, and Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith – were not reappointed.
In his own whaikōrero, Potaka said he was listening and taking onboard Papa’s, and others, concerns.
Whānau wellbeing and Kotahitanga
In closing, Papa said te oranga o te whānau, the wellbeing of the whānau, needs to be high on the Government’s agenda.
“No matter if you’re in the ethnic diversity group, no matter if you’re in the tangata tiriti group, no matter if you’re in the tangata whenua group.”
He said the Kotahitanga movement that started a year ago in Tūrangawaewae, and continued on around the country, is what Māori are focused on.
“It’s that kotahitanga for a pathway to tino rangatiratanga, and a pathway for mana motuhake that we will be designing for us.
“There may be times and occasions where we collaborate on the answers, but make no bones, the government should not be part of some of the solutions for the ills of te ao Māori.
“And sometimes, yes, let’s work together, but we say to you, we will forge that pathway, and in time, we will invite you to be part and parcel of some of the footsteps along the way.”
Prime Minister responds in speech
Luxon acknowledged Papa’s comments and said he spent some time reflecting on Kotahitanga and what could be learnt from church founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana.
“[Rātana] had an unwavering commitment to an open dialogue, and he believed very strongly that he should say it as it is, and I think that’s what we do here at the pā each and every time.
“I think it’s important that we foster an environment where we can actually share differences and perspectives – that they are heard, they’re shared and they’re respected. I think that’s what this is about.”
He said Rātana had an unwavering commitment to the Treaty.
“He didn’t see it as a historical document. He saw it as a living document – to shape our responsibilities but also our futures together. And I feel the same way, that the Treaty is the founding document, which guides our Māori-Crown relations, and it needs to continue to do so.”
Luxon said he wanted to see more Treaty settlements concluded because it addresses the historical grievances and “gives us a way forward”.
“And when I think about the future prosperity of iwi, that is the absolutely critical to the future of where we’re trying to get to as a country.”
Glossary
whaikōrero – speech; formal speechmaking part of a pōwhiri
haukāinga – locals, home people; the hosting side of a pōwhiri
te iwi Māori – the Māori people
kōrero – speech, talk
hīkoi – walk, march
Pōneke – Wellington
tangata Māori – Māori people
tangata tiriti – Treaty people, non-Māori people of the Treaty
tangata whenua – local indigenous people
ka pai – (that’s) good
mātanga o te ao Māori – experts within Māoridom
te oranga o te whānau – the wellbeing of the family
kotahitanga – unity, unite
tino rangatiratanga – sovereignty, autonomy
mana motuhake – self-determination
te ao Māori – the Māori world, Māoridom
pā – village
iwi – tribe, people
