Two major hui to discuss kotahitanga to be held in Hawke's Bay
Two major hui will be held in Hawke’s Bay in April and May to discuss kotahitanga (unity) in the face of policy by the Coalition Government deemed by some to be anti-Māori.
Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (NKKI) and its Executive Chair, Bayden Barber, have been forthright in their concern about the direction of the National, New Zealand First and ACT Coalition Government.
The Government’s polices include removing the Māori Health Authority, Māori wards in local government, Māori involvement in the governance of natural resources, Māori language in government departments, the right of Māori children to be kept in their own whānau, government services being delivered to Māori, Smokefree New Zealand, the jurisdiction of the Waitangi Tribunal, and Māori rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Barber told Hawke’s Bay App that there was a real need for Māori unity.
“Our ancestors knew that a unified iwi Māori is a powerful proposition. We know that now. We've always known it. But to put a form, function structure around that has been a really tough one.”
Ngāti Kahungunu will be holding its own Hui-ā-Iwi at Waipatu Marae, on 26 April. The Hui-ā-Iwi is to discuss kotahitanga in preparation for a Hui Taumata to be hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu at Omāhu Marae on 31 May 2024. The Hui Taumata will identify solutions for Māori Unity - Kotahitanga. The Māori Kīngi Tūheitia is set to attend the second hui.
Barber says: “We will be meeting at Waipatu Marae, the spiritual home of Te Kotahitanga Movement from the 1890s to discuss what kotahitanga means for Ngāti Kahungunu in 2024.”
“All of our Treaty settlements have been completed so it’s timely that Kahungunu have these discussions ourselves to see what a united future looks like in our rohe. It is also a good opportunity to canvas our own Kotahitanga model to put on the table at the Hui Taumata in May.”
Barber said that it was concerning that the Coalition Government was “just pushing forward”.
“Despite our pleas to them at all these different hui, they've just ignored it and carried on.”
“But this isn't a response. I mean, we have a government that is hard of hearing on issues Māori, but this is a response to future governments as well, because the next government could be worse.”
“We just need to bring ourselves collectively together so that we are able to truly influence government. But certainly putting the best parts of te iwi Māori together is good for our well-being, but also commercially that's a really powerful force.”
In a statement, Ngāti Kahungunu said that the Hui Taumata was a call to action Kotahitanga in the 21st Century.
“We heard why Kotahitanga was important at Tūrangawaewae, Rātana and Waitangi, now we need to work on the ‘how’, to give it the form and function to truly leverage what a united iwi Māori can realise. It is really exciting!”
Waipatu Marae was a key location during the establishment of the Kotahitanga Movement in the 1890s.
Former NKKI Executive Chair Ngahiwi Tomoana, who is a descendant of Henare Tomoana, one of the rangatira that established the movement said in the statement that: “We have a long history concerning the Kotahitanga Movement and will be able to share those insights with our people at the Hui-ā-Iwi and Hui Taumata. We can take the learnings from two centuries ago and put them into today’s context.”
Thompson Hokianga, Deputy Chair of Ngāti Kahungunu says: “Our people came to Waimārama Marae in big numbers in December. We had over 45 speakers that day along with numerous motions from the floor to action. This is a great opportunity to report on the progress made since then.”
Having the Hui-ā-Iwi a day after ANZAC Day is no coincidence either. Barber says: “Many of our ancestors fought in Wars overseas for King and Country yet they returned home to a nation that did not acknowledge their sacrifice.”
“They paid the price of citizenship, yet many had no land to return to, no jobs and dim prospects going forward. This needs to change. There is a bright future for Aotearoa and Māori are key to this nation's success. A unified Kahungunu and a unified iwi Māori can be the springboard to get us there faster.”
Rāhui Papa, spokesperson for Waikato Tainui says: “The Tūrangawaewae hui was a call from Kīngi Tūheitia to unite on issues that were coming thick and fast from the Coalition Government, especially the attack on our founding document, Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”
“We saw the power of a united iwi Māori. We now need to move to the next taumata or level where we can map out what constitutional arrangments will collectively move Māori to the Mana Motuhake and Tino Rangatiratanga we aspire to.”
Omāhu Marae minitā, the Rev Zhane Tāhau Whelan, welcomes the opportunity for his marae and hapū to host the Hui Taumata.
“Our tīpuna Renata Kawepō always said that Omāhu was a marae for the motu. He was a great prophetic voice and champion for Kotahitanga. We look forward to welcoming Kīngi Tūheitia back to the marae after his visit not long after Cyclone Gabrielle hit last year. It will be fantastic for him to see the progress that has been made in the last 12 months as we come together for the unity and flourishing of te iwi Māori ”
The Ven Ngira Simmonds, the Office of the Kīngitanga spokesperson, says: “Kīngi Tūheitia will be in attendance and is looking forward to supporting this important kaupapa.“
To register attendance for the Hui-ā-Iwi at Waipatu Marae please contact the NKII Office
To register attendance for the Hui Taumata at Omāhu Marae go to www.huitaumata.co.nz or email huitaumata@gmail.com
