June 21, 2020
Karanga puts ring of fire on Owairaka
Wahine have used karanga to hit back at a racist attack on Ōwairaka-Mount Albert.
Two weeks ago artist Ngahina Hohaia says when she asked a woman to put her dog on a leash she was verbally abused for her moko kauae and then hit.
Ms Hohaia from Parihaka connected the attack with the Honour the Maunga protest, which she says has made the mountain an uncomfortable place to be as a Māori woman.
Honour the Maunga denies it had any connection with the attacker.
Yesterday afternoon dozens of women gathered on the mountain to karanga.
Organiser Precious Clark from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei says the action was to support Ms Hohaia and to stand strongly against violence, aggression and racism.
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson says it was a stunning gathering against racial violence that also affirmed the beauty and strength in the gift of wearing moko kauae.
Poet Karlo Mila described the rolling Karanga as a ring of fire, a circle of power, a round of solidarity.
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