August 04, 2021
Lengthy whaikorero out of place at Pacific event
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson has slammed the performance of mana whenua representatives at Sunday’s Dawn Raids apology.
He says it was always going to be a long ceremony, but the situation threatened to get out of hand because of lengthy whaikōrero at what should have been a Pasifika-focused event.
"I think as Māori we have to learn not to take over situations, particularly on the pae. We have to learn to work in with the kaupapa, not be the kaupapa or take over the kaupapa. A lot of irritation from people there in terms of the kaupapa coming across and being too dominating from the other side. And that was disappointing for us, you have guys standing up and deciding to talk for 25 minutes," he says.
Mr Jackson says the situation was salvaged through some appropriately fierce oratory from Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare – but some of the Pasifika male speakers also tested the audience’s patience.
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