Groundwork: Facilitating Change

More uplifting examples of Te Tiriti relationships in local communities – mana whenua and councils working together to welcome new citizens to their rohe. First is a powerful set of interviews on Central Otago District Council’s Te Tiriti journey, and the benefits for all their community: https://lnkd.in/guiVhf6W And the second is Mayor Kirton’s recent reflections on Ruapehu district’s first citizenship ceremony: “We are immensely thankful to Ngāti Tui-o-Nuku for opening the doors of Maungārongo Marae and making this ceremony a truly unique experience.  Their manaakitanga was at the heart of the day’s success. Council hopes that this ceremony will be the first of many to be held on marae throughout the district. This event marks another important stage in our growing relationship with Ruapehu hapū and iwi.” https://lnkd.in/gjvSdqC9 

Treaty Principles Explainer – New resource    In the lead up to the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill to parliament, it is important we continue learning and sharing trusted information about the principles and how they work.    What are the Treaty principles?  In 1840, leaders of hapū and Crown representatives signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi - it consists of a preamble and articles. The principles of the Treaty are the key ideas underpinning the treaty, they are a distillation of the full meanings and intentions of the full texts of Te Tiriti and the Treaty.    Treaty principles have not been determined in agreement with hapū; however, they have been developed by people with expertise in the wording and context of Te Tiriti, by the Courts and the Waitangi Tribunal. Since the 1980s, Parliament has also included “the principles of the Treaty” in many laws as a means of enacting its treaty obligations.    Work undertaken by the Courts, the Waitangi Tribunal and historians over the last nearly 50 years has grown the understanding of the meaning of Te Tiriti itself and of Treaty principles. The Tribunal’s most recent determination on Treaty principles made in relation to Te Raki [Northern] Māori states: “The principles must be based in the actual agreement entered into in 1840...” and therefore, if the Crown wants to clarify or redefine Treaty Principles, it must do that in agreement with hapū and iwi leaders.    To learn more about the Treaty Principles and actions you can take, visit our recent resource here:

Next week will mark the 189th anniversary of the signing He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – A Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand, first signed by rangatira at Waitangi on 28 October 1835.    He Whakaputanga provides foundational context for current discussions about Te Tiriti and Treaty Principles – highlighted in this great kōrero with Margaret Mutu last October. 

We were inspired by this recent article by ActionStation Director, Kassie Hartendorp, reflecting on how she came to learn about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and what enacting Te Tiriti means for our shared future. “What inspired me the most about Matike Mai is that it showed how Te Tiriti gives us practical solutions for where we go next as a country. Matike Mai suggested different examples for decision making which ensure Māori get to have a say over the things that are important to them, while ensuring we can all continue to look after each other and work together. By changing our structures to better reflect Te Tiriti, we can repair past harms and move forward together on an equal footing. Some organisations and churches have already modelled relationships where decision-making is shared, so that our differences are embraced, and everyone has an equal say.”

“I have absolutely no doubt that we will realise the vision of a unified nation where we’re living harmoniously, because we’ve already shown that kāwanatanga and rangatiratanga can coexist. It will happen. It’s just a matter of time. And I’ll tell you why I’m optimistic about it. Because a) we’ve got it all written in black and white, in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. And b) we’re Kiwis. One of the great encouraging lessons of the miracle of the “Team of five million” during Covid is that we’re the only country in the world that pulled that off. That demonstrated that the homogeneity of values in this land is still significant. And New Zealanders, if nothing else, believe in what’s true, what’s just, and a fair go. That underlying goodness that’s in this land is what will see us through.” Uplifting reflections from Ngāti Toa Rangatira leader Helmut Modlik on the recently televised debate. 

Are you Pōneke based and interested in a local organising event aimed at building support for Te Tiriti action in these times?    Activating Tangata Tiriti   October 12th 9am-5pm   Two/fiftyseven Wellington    “Together, let’s create a gathering for tangata Tiriti to grow our ability to act in support of Te Tiriti and against racism. Let’s learn from each other, so we have the tools, connections, and way forward to take collective action and stand in solidarity with tangata whenua. Our gathering will use an unconference peer-driven approach.”    Sign up for the event here: 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi - what’s at stake for our tamariki and mokopuna?  Carwyn Jones and Max Harris were recently hosted by NZEI to discuss current Te Tiriti issues, the importance of Te Tiriti in education, and why taking action is critical for students and future generations.

A recent example we’ve been sharing in workshops of another great iwi initiative that has benefited the whole community.    Ka rawe Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa

“In my experience, the presence and status of rangatiratanga is not controversial to most New Zealanders. We accept and understand that rangatiratanga occupies a distinct place in the constitutional framework of our country. The controversy arises when competing political ideologies attempt to appropriate rangatiratanga for their own purposes... Ngāi Tahu is less interested in arguing about what it is, and more focused on how we exercise it for the benefit of our people and all New Zealanders. We should be having exciting discussions about the practical ways in which rangatiratanga can contribute to solving the housing crisis, addressing the infrastructure deficit, and empowering local communities to govern and manage their affairs in innovative ways.” A clear message from Justin Tipa on Ngāi Tahu responses to government attempts to undermine and erase tino rangatiratanga. 

It’s a broken system where the government can introduce legalisation based on misinformation but Opposition MPs who raise their concerns about this in parliament are sanctioned.  “A knowledge gap is a dangerous thing,” the MP for Te Tai Tonga told the House last Wednesday. “It allows lies to be presented as truths. Politicians call this obfuscation-the art of making something unclear, intentionally vague, ambiguous, to conceal or obscure the truth, to confuse others. “Lies, in other words. Many in this House are masters of it, and it is a disservice to those who voted you into your positions.” #honourtetiriti #matikemai #tinorangatiratanga