As a proud Māmā to three boisterous reo rua/bilingual māori boys, Waitangi was a given for our rātaka/calendar this year.
With the life we choose to live as tangata whenua reclaiming our identity, it was right up there amongst attending the Rangiriri activation/peaceful protest to protect our Mana Motuhake/sovereignty, learning our maramataka (māori lunar calendar) and kōrero māori ia rā, ia rā! (Speaking māori every single day.)
In hindsight, I’m reflecting on why I have never made the pilgrimage to Waitangi before. He aha te tino whai tikanga o te rā, ‘Waitangi’? What is the true importance of Waitangi Day? I could offer the same rhetoric of the 90s and 00s. “It is a day to honour our founding document.” But let’s unpack that.
Nō Ngāpuhi nui tōnu ahau, I am Ngāpuhi. My people have been the guardians of Te Tiriti since 1840. But what we as New Zealanders don’t always acknowledge or even hear about, is ‘He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene: The Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand’, signed on 28 October 1835 by 34 Rangatira, five years before te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed. Why do we not acknowledge this day with as much importance? Is there some sort of narrative we are unaware of as modern day ‘New Zealanders’?
My whānau had been planning our haerenga/journey to Waitangi for a year. My boys and I went straight to Waitangi after a week at kura and then a weekend at a kapa haka noho in Thames. All the kaupapa!
We were fortunate enough to partake in the ‘Haki Ātea’ activation led by none other than Tame Iti himself. Activation – a new age art form of peaceful protest.
Or, as it were, similar to the ways in which my people peacefully protested in Parihaka before they were invaded, raped, pillaged and punished in sickening ways.
Tame Iti’s Haki Ātea represents a Blank Canvas. Our rōpu arrived before sunrise all dressed in white, waving white flags. Tame Iti explained: “The ātea comes from the separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku. When they separated there was an ātea, a blank canvas, and so this is what the white flag represents – a blank canvas to find new ways to move forward.” If you missed it, check it out. What a beautiful activation to be a part of. The many people gathering in support of his kaupapa – māori, tangata tiriti, tau iwi – was something special.
Standing alongside my boys as we chanted, “The Treaty is a fraud! Honour Te Tiriti!”, I felt an overwhelming sense of mana! For the mātauranga/knowledge I am passing down to my tamariki already surpasses what I have had to seek as an adult. They are aware of He Whakaputanga and the differences between Te Tiriti and The Treaty. They have the mana of knowing how to overcome the challenges they will face as tama māori/māori boys. The lack of knowledge on such an important piece of our history and the consequences of this are being used as a political football to divide our country. What a sad state of affairs.
But these realities didn’t deter us from enjoying our momentous celebration of being on our whenua in Te Taitokerau. My tama were beyond excited to finally stand on their whenua ki Taiāmai – a rich fertile whenua steeped in history, our whakapapa making us descendants of Hongi Hika and Hone Heke. To visit our Nannies and whānaunga at our urupā, to eat our lunch at our marae Parawhenua, to see our maunga, roto, awa in all their awe and natural beauty! But ultimately, the highlight for my boys was seeing their waka Ngātokimatawhaorua on the water! This year at Waitangi, the forum tent was situated by the whare waka/boat house. My boys spent hours there, reading all about Ngātokimatawhaorua and their whakapapa to Nukutawhiti and Kupe. In awe, they watched whānaunga hoe our waka with such ease across the bay. Mesmerised, they saw all the waka venture out into the bay. A passion to join the likes of Nukutawhiti and Kupe was born! Looks like Waka Ama is next on the annual sporting schedule!
The kai was another element of pure enjoyment! There is another layer of love added when the kai is traditional. Hāngi, tītī/muttonbird boil up, kaimoana, you name it … paua, mussels, tuatua, tio. Yuumm!! And of course fry bread. Boujee spins on classic dishes – paua and cream pies, mussel fritter stacks. Heaven! Free stuff including: face painting, bouncy castles, games and challenges, giveaways. Manu/bomb competitions off the bridge from Paihia to Waitangi, waka convoys and waka rides across the bay. Music, waiata, kapa haka, the Navy’s Brass marching band and gun ship. The flag raising ceremonies, art workshops, Aboriginal Australian and Native American dancers and international kai. The whai kōrero, karanga and kōrero māori everywhere … He kaupapa ātaahua!!
But most of all, the mauri/energy was a vibe! Bumping into friends from all different walks of life, including my Whitianga homies Leo and Taylor from the ALTBAYS podcast, The HORI who I interviewed last year during his ‘The Elite Māori Tour’ and Mike King who had also recently been in Whitianga during his I AM HOPE Campaign.
Meeting some familiar faces including John Campbell, James Shaw, Uncle Tics, and Judaxx. We had to take photos as evidence for Nan, Koro and the cuzzies! Everyone on the same page, true Kotahitanga/Unity in action! There in support of each other, to uphold the mana and rights that Te Tiriti holds for all of us as māori and non-māori.
I urge everyone to please, do some research on te Tiriti vs. The Treaty to ensure we uphold the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi for the betterment of us all here in Aotearoa.
Toitū He Whakaputanga! Honour He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene: The Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand!
Toitū Te Tiriti! Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi!
Mō ake tōnu!
Mauri ora!
Words by Maddie Johnson
Maddie runs the Te Puna Reo o Whitianga. Find out more about it here.
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