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Pago Pago, American Samoa— Similar to the Samoan Maori movement of 1908, Te Pāti Māori (the Maori Party) is committed to transforming New Zealand into a nation that respects the tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty) of tangata whileua.
The Mao Movement was started by Samoan chiefs to establish a government in opposition to New Zealand’s colonial rule. The movement helped Samoa gain independence in 1962.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine and Ngā Rauru) said the new council would also create a safe home for everyone.
Speaking at the Pacific Arts Festival in Hawaii, she said the party was holding talks to “form a government that fights for the right of Maori to exercise power”.
She said both the Blue and Red governments “have not always respected Māori issues and have not always respected Pacific Islanders.
“I think as Pacific Islanders we’re really lucky because Ngā Tini Whetū, or the stars, connects us all together, so this is about bringing us back to what was meant to be us,” Ngarewa-Packer told William Terite of Pacific Morning.
By reconnecting, Ngarewa-Packer mentioned how Maori had a parliament in the 19th century, which was forced to end in 1902 by colonists.
Last month, Māori issued Te Ngākau o Te Iwi Māori, a Declaration of Political Independence, which they are calling on all Māori and non-Māori to sign.
The move also kick-started the process of establishing a Maori parliament, with thousands of people taking part in a National Maori Day of Action led by the party.
The protest also coincided with the budget announcement by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.
“Enough is enough,” the Maori wrote in a statement.
Ngarewa-Packer said Te Pāti Māori prided itself on being a positive action party, not a political party, and that was why it was pushing for a new parliament.
“As the only active party, we have to reclaim that right and make sure our future generations know that rangatiratanga is something that is within our reach, what it should look like, how we claim it, we need to make sure that this is something our next generation is talking about.
“At no stage do I think this is going to be something that starts and ends in my lifetime, and a lot of people have already dropped the rhetoric about independence, about us looking after our own and reminding Maori again that we have never given up sovereignty.”
Maori Party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke (Ngā Puhi, Waikato, Taranaki, Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tahu) said the new campaign was about honouring the Treaty of Waitangi.
“Look at this treaty and the key message in it, because it’s a simple treaty, you can come here with your people. We allow you, we welcome you, you rule your people, we rule our people.”
Not everyone agrees with the Te Pāti Māori plan. The Coalition Government opposes the idea, and Kīngitanga questions it.
But Ms Maipi-Clark said in the past many Maori opposed making Te Reo an official language, introducing kura kaupapa (Maori language schools) or forming their own political party.
But she said public support was growing, judging by turnout at the national rally and Te Hui ā Motu ki Turangawaewae in November.
“We are lucky that every event is peaceful, facilitated by the Mokopuna organisation and is designed to unite people under a really positive umbrella because people are so frustrated and they don’t know how to express that emotion.
“So we did make sure to ‘don’t provide for the family.’ Let’s find the light, let’s find the light.
“When you look at the struggle between our families in Carnac, the government of New Caledonia and the government of France when the main bill for the treaty comes out, it’s crazy.”
The National Party said Te Pāti Māori’s move was “just a publicity stunt”.
ACT leader David Seymour said he hoped Parliament would support Te Pāti Māori so “they can stop distracting from the real issues affecting New Zealand”.
Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni said the party “did not support this particular action” but supported protests across the country.
Ngareva-Parker said that while in Hawaii, she has been in contact with ariki (leaders) from across the moana (ocean) to hear their perspectives on the issue.
Led by Hawaiian Royal Ariki Prince David Kawānanakoa and Maori King Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Redowhero VII, paramount chiefs and traditional leaders pledged to strengthen regional unity.
They signed the Turama Ariki Declaration, pledging to use ancient Indigenous expertise to guide future generations in protecting and preserving connections to culture, spirituality, land and ocean.
Ngarewa-Packer said she also hopes to create models for Maori to use on their lands, and take the ideas to iwi in New Zealand for discussion.
“Colonization is a disservice to our entire economy, it is no longer what we once were, nor does it have to keep us where we are now, at the bottom of every major statistic.
“It requires extreme intervention but it’s also about whakapapa and no one can take that away from us.”
Maori say the new parliament will uphold Maori sovereignty as recognised and protected in the Declaration and the Treaty of Waitangi.
It will also build on tikanga (Māori custom) and kawa (Māori gathering rituals) and target the livelihoods of mokopuna (Māori descendants).
The story was originally reported on Pacific Media Network
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