May 03, 2018
Marae bypass irks Kawhia iwi
A member of Kawhia iwi Ngati Hikairo says tikanga is being trampled by tribes who bypass the marae to have hui.
Hikairo is trying to assert its identity separate to neighbours Maniapoto and Waikato Tainui.
Last year there was a protest when the then treaty negotiations minister met with Maniapoto claimants in the bowling club.
Next week it’s Waikato Tainui holding its hui in the local pub.
Gareth Seymour says that’s not right.
"We’re mana whenua and as mana whenua we have the right to host and we have the right to dictate and to determine haere mai ki te marae, wew can meet and talk, that’s what the marae is for," he says.
Waikato Tainui spokesperson Rahui Papa says because the hui is about issues that relate to a number of iwi and hapu, people around the harbour requested it be held at a neutral venue.
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