December 03, 2020
Ngarewa-Packer teaches parliament its history
Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer says there is more to be said now she has made her maiden speech.
The Ngāti Ruanui leader made a profound impact as she described herself as a descendant of a people who survived a holocaust and genocide sponsored by members of Parliament whose portraits still hang from the walls.
Her great grandfather was the only survivor of his whānau to return home from imprisonment in Dunedin after being sentenced in1869 for fighting land confiscation.
She says the speech was a chance to disrupt in a way that was pono and tika
"When people know there is a different attitude to why mamae is there and why things need to progress and the opportunities we are missing and what we are not letting people move on from, so hopefully it is a kōrero that has more kōrero about it. Members of Parliament who sought our extermination and created legislation to achieve it."
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