Toitū Te Tiriti organiser Eru Kapa-Kingi says his movement is about “heart and mind change” more than legislative change, after being pressed about details of proposals floated by activists, such as a Māori Parliament.
The organiser has previously stood as a candidate for Te Pati Māori, which has proposed a Māori Parliament. Activists have floated ideas of other tangata whenua-led institutions.
Kapa-Kingi helped lead last year’s unprecedented hīkoi against the Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, which saw tens of thousands march on Parliament.
But speaking to Q+A today, he said thinking “outside of a Wellington paradigm” as he was asked how he would channel his movement’s energy into Parliament.
1News’ Te Aniwa Hurihanganui reports from the capital as Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived. (Source: 1News)
“It’s not about constitutional change or legislative change to me. To me, it’s about people change, and it’s about heart change and mind change, and that’s fundamentally where our movement will be – what [we] will be focusing on for the next 20 years,” he said.
“People change is our game, and that’s the game that we’re going to be playing and promoting.”
The organiser ruled out standing for Te Pati Māori at next year’s election, despite his association with the party, which included being a list candidate in 2023 and a senior advisor. He denied any info collected for Toitū Te Tiriti would be passed on to the party.
ACT leader David Seymour has previously highlighted the connection and his paid roles with the party have been criticised by the Taxpayers Union.
Kapa-Kingi denied organising for Toitu Te Tiriti while also a paid Parliamentary staffer.
How would a Māori Parliament work?
Te Pati Māori has previously called for an autonomous Māori Parliament, under its “Te Ngākau o Te Iwi Māori” declaration.
The proposal has been ruled out by likely coalition partner Labour.
Kapa-Kingi along with other activists have endorsed the idea, alongside raising the possibility of other indigenous institutions such as Māori banks or supermarkets.
When asked, the political organiser said he couldn’t give details about how he envisioned a Māori Parliament would work, but said he believed it was “possible”.
“How that would work, we won’t really know until we try it, right?” he said.
“Many people are quick to shoot them down and will think, ‘Oh, that’s impossible. There’s no way that can work.’ But the point is to have the conversation and to socialise at least the idea and therefore grow the belief and the possibility of that being a thing.
“As I said before, we’re working against a backdrop of 200 years of oppression and our ability to believe and to see a future different to the reality we’re living right now has been severely restricted. And so that’s what all of these efforts of liberation are geared towards, is building the belief from the inside.”
Pressed further about what such a proposal would practically mean, he suggested confusion about the idea came down to “a fear response.”
“It’s a fear of the unknown. It’s the fear of the different, and probably the lack of detail might add to that kind of irritation and fear response,” Kapa-Kingi said. Lacking details, the activist was pressed about how he could advocate for the new system.
“Because I believe it’s possible. I know it’s possible, and I know it’s real, because that’s the world that my ancestors lived in not even 200 years ago, right?” he explained.
“I know it’s happened before. It’s not a new idea. It’s really reverting back to the reality of the world that my tūpuna lived in.”
The ACT leader spoke to Q+A’s Jack Tame, after tens of thousands took part in a hīkoi to Parliament. (Source: 1News)
He added: “How it’s real, we can figure out. But the point is to get on the waka, launch it on the moana and start our journey.
“And when we’re on the moana, that’s when we’ll learn actually the most.”
The Treaty Principles Bill will receive its second reading in Parliament as soon as this week, where it’s expected to be voted down by parties except for ACT.
Kapa-Kingi said “the bill in itself was never our defining kaupapa” for Toitū Te Tiriti, suggesting his grouping’s broader vision would be his subsequent focus.
He said “Even during the hīkoi, we were very clear every step of the way that we are walking towards our Hawaiki Hou.
“We are walking towards our Hawaiki Mokopuna, a place where our mokopuna can thrive; our Hawaiki Aotearoa as well, where everyone can thrive, not just Māori”
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
