Ae Marika! 11 February 2014

Posted on February 11, 2014 by admin in News

I have to say it was quite a hoot watching the media at Waitangi struggle to put together a story when they didn’t have a big fight to help anchor their coverage even though there was heaps of other things happening – sports, music, korero, marches, hui. The one story they thought they had about the Governor General being jostled turned out to be a non-story when the GG said he didn’t even notice anything.

This year I declined a speaking role on the taumata and instead arranged for one of the leaders from the Hikoi to speak when the Prime Minister arrived. That role was taken up by young Joel Bristowe who spoke clearly and sincerely about the growing opposition amongst New Zealanders about deep sea oil drilling and land-based toxic mining.

The Prime Minister invited Joel and others to come to Wellington to meet with him to present their case. They tell me they’ve declined, instead inviting the PM back to Waitangi to discuss the issues there (which he won’t do). Pity really. In today’s world you have to take every opportunity to get your case out there and back yourself to represent your kaupapa and your people well. I’ll give Reuben a ring and see whether they’ve had a change of heart.

Another positive from this year was the emergence (been a long time coming) of the next generation of leaders. Back in 1998, a vibrant group of rangatahi known as TOA (Te Ohonga Ake) were the primary organisers of the 5th World Indigenous Youth Conference held at Waitangi. They may no longer use the name but this year the same people were the backbone to the Hikoi, the march at Waitangi and the presentations at the top marae. A very talented bunch. Good to see them coming to the fore at last.

Another encouraging sign was seeing three women spoke at Waitangi this year. Annette Sykes spoke out on the marae atea as part of the Hikoi. I was sitting with the home folks and I can tell you that her comments were well received (even by some of my grumpy uncles). Then when the PM came into the whare, Bob Ashby’s mokopuna spoke and from all accounts she also spoke very well. And when Labour and the Greens arrived Metiria Turei spoke in reply to the mihimihi and again, her comments were warmly received.

And protest? There’s always a few nutters – one guy who comes up from Whakatohea to rant at Waitangi who don’t say boo on his own marae, our resident Samoan who prattles on about religious stuff she wouldn’t dare raise in the Samoan community, and people passing out historical tracts with deep and meaningful messages that nobody understands.

But the Hikoi, the woman trying to shout down the PM from outside the whare, the guy who threw the fish, the heckling, the banners, the challenges during the whaikorero – at a time of great turmoil, long may our strong protest traditions continue.

AE MARIKA is an article written every week by Hone Harawira, leader of the MANA Movement and Member of Parliament for Te Tai Tokerau. You are welcome to use any of the comments and to ascribe them to Mr Harawira. The full range of Hone’s articles can be found on the MANA website at www.mana.net.nz