Historic day at Waitangi: Te ao Māori powerhouses challenge Government

Monday, 5 February 2024

The powerhouses of te ao Māori have arrived, driving an unmissable, unequivocal, unmatchable pou (stake) in the ground.

From all corners of the country, leaders of te ao Māori from all walks were welcomed to the Treaty Grounds during a history making day in Waitangi.

Activist Tame Iti leads a protest he’s over the Waitangi Bridge on the way to the Treaty Grounds on Monday morning

These leaders had followed the call of Kingi Tūheitia, who has been asking Māori from all organisations and iwi to unite as the Government proposes significant reform of Te Tiriti law and Māori policy. They listened.

On Sunday the Rātana marching band stood in blistering heat, with their bright and colourful suits, to trumpet the welcome of Tūheitia, alongside Parihaka, Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungungu, Taranaki Whānui, and many others from across te ao Māori.

Rahui Papa, an academic and Kiingitanga spokesperson, said having such a breadth of te ao Māori together was exceptionally rare. He could not recall it happening since the tangihanga of Te Atairangikaahu, the Māori queen, in 2006.

The Maori Party is challenged as they arrive at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds

“But it’s happened three times this year, just as a result of of the narratives coming out of the coalition Government,” said Papa.

The first was January 20, after Tūheitia issued a royal proclamation inviting everyone to his marae, Turangawaewae, to discuss the political climate. Then again at the annual Rātana celebrations.

A large crowd gathers at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds as the Maori Party is welcomed

After the fighting talk from the Green and Labour parties when they arrived at Te Whare Rūnanga on Saturday, there were predictions of “fireworks” heading for Waitangi.

There was an incredible display on Sunday, but more of a variety show than fireworks, from the music of Rātana, poi of Parihaka, incredible kōrero, and a bit of comedy as well.

NZ First’s Shane Jones and ACT leader David Seymour featured in a few punchlines, during a three-hour pōwhiri which was - for the most part - upbeat.

Rātana Pā spokesman Te Taepa Kameta poked fun at Jones, after he told those at Rātana that they should travel to Waitangi if they wanted to debate Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“Shane, kei hea,” he asked, meaning: ‘Shane, where are you?’

NZ First’s de facto deputy was nowhere to be seen, despite him living not far from Waitangi. His absence, and that of NZ First leader Winston Peters, was noticed - especially given the two do often attend events at the Treaty Grounds as they have whakapapa here.

Maori Party co leader Rawiri Waititi speaking at Waitangi.

Last year, for instance, Peters and Jones sat on the taumata to welcome politicians to the Treaty Grounds.

Speaking in te reo, Kameta said: “You came to my house and said, if you want to talk about Te Tiriti o Waitangi come to Waitangi. I am at your house and you are not here.”

Earlier on Sunday, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiriri Waititi made similar comments to reporters, asking “kei hea Koro?” in relation to Peters.

Hōne Sadler, a leader and kāumatua of Ngāpuhi, started the pōwhiri with a message of unity and calm.

He said Ngāpuhi and all those already at Waitangi must stick by tikanga, to be welcoming hosts of all manuhiri (visitors) - including the Government when it arrives on Monday. But he said they must also make their feelings known.

There is a large police and Māori Warden presence at Waitangi.

“We should look after them but don’t be soft. Talk to them,” Sadler said in te reo.

“We will never stoop to their level.”

Papa said all leaders had adhered to Sadler’s message.

“We have to act with the mana of our tūpuna on our shoulders. We cannot let ourselves be dragged down into a politician’s realm,” he said.

“The theme is toitū te Tiriti, toitū He Whakaputanga. It’s not ‘toitū respond to the Government’, because it’s about us doing stuff for us.”

Bayden Barber, the chairperson of Ngāti Kahungungu, said all of te ao Māori had accepted Jones' challenge to debate Te Tiriti. More than 500 people arrived with the Kiingitanga on Sunday.

During his whaikōrero, Barber said the size of the hui showed Māori were united in defence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“If this Government thinks they can destroy us they have another thing coming for them. We will unite and we will fight,” he said, in te reo.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was set to lead the coalition to the Treaty Grounds on Monday.

But with the arrival of the Government, a number of hīkoi and activist-led events were scheduled to arrive at Waitangi as well. For organisers, such as National Trust chairperson Pita Tipene, there has been a major effort to try and ensure cool heads prevail - even after the powerhouse leaders and renowned kaumātua of te ao Māori depart the paepae.