Introduction:
Over 2,000 people gathered at Waipapa marae yesterday in a hui organised in just two weeks by some of Maoridom’s most well-known Māori rights activists, including Tame Iti, Hone Harawira, Annette Sykes, Mereana Pitman, Ken Mair and Hilda Halkyard-Harawira. The hui saw a diverse gathering, with acknowledgement given to pākehā allies such as John Minto who flew up from Christchurch to reunite with those he stood beside during the Springbok Tour protests.
Annette Sykes, one of the hui organisers, stated: “This is a time of great turbulence where the need for resistance, activation and mobilisation is greater than ever. It is not only Māori who are outraged by the plan to legislate away Māori rights and tikanga Māori affirmed in He Whakaputanga me te Tiriti, but Pākehā, tagata pasefika and tauiwi are outraged too by these unspeakable violations of Indigenous and human rights, and due legal process.” Sykes further criticized the media’s coverage of the foreshore and seabed issue, calling it “monocultural, biased, sensationalist, and actively encouraging social disharmony and division.”
Photo / supplied
Ken Mair, another hui organizer, called on Prime Minister Luxon to “ditch his coalition partner David Seymour and their racist Treaty Principles Bill,” stating that the current processes are “racially motivated and divisive.”
Hone Harawira addressed the crowd, declaring: “The time for hui is over, it’s time for dooey. I’m sick of this coalition already and they’ve only been in government for less than a year. I support the mobilisation of all rangatahi to take the lead on this and our job is to support them.”
Dr Rawiri, Andrew Judd & John Minto
Tame Iti, known for his activism and creative protest, declared: “I’m ready, I’ve been ready and I’m always ready to activate and educate through the power of creative protest.”
Photo / Supplied
As an outcome of the hui, the following declarations were made:
1. Commitment to Tino Rangatiranga and Mana Māori Motuhake: This hui declares and affirms its ongoing commitment to Tino Rangatiranga and Mana Māori Motuhake.
2. Support for He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi: This hui declares its support for He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the constitutional foundation stones for transformation and constitutional justice.
3. National Hīkoi: That this hui calls for a National Hīkoi from Te Hapua to Wellington to mobilise all our communities so that we arrive in Wellington on or about the day of the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill.
4. Nation-wide Day of Strike Action: That this hui support efforts to coordinate a Nation-wide Day of Strike Action to confirm our support and commitment to a Te Tiriti-based society.
5. Whanau, Hapū, and Iwi Activations: That this hui endorses all whanau, hapū and iwi to initiate activations to protect their rights and interests, and committees be set up to coordinate that to occur, including a national coordinating committee.
6. Alliance with Allies: That we seek the support of our Pākehā allies, Tagata Pasefika, Pacific Islands Network, Asians For Tino Rangatiratanga, Polynesian Panthers and Indigenous nations to stand with us to protect our Māori independence in this nation, and to take actions that affirm mana Māori me Te Tiriti.
7. Te Reo Māori Day: That we only speak Te Reo Māori nationwide, for an entire day during Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2024.
ENDS
For all media inquiries contact Tame Iti, Ken Mair and Eru Kapa-Kingi.
