October 27, 2021
Hikoi puts borders on alert
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua is telling organisers of a hikoi from Rotorua to Waitangi not to try crossing their checkpoint at Te Hana.
Rūnanga chair Dame Naida Glavish says the so-called Sovereign Hīkoi of Truth seems to be trying to link anti-vaccination views with the annual commemoration of the signing of He Whakaputanga, the 1835 Declaration of Independence.
She says their hoo-ha is hōhā and undermines the work Ngāti Whātua is doing to keep Taitokerau safe.
“Here in Tāmaki Mākaurau, we are totally and absolutely sick of being locked in. The people who have been vaccinated are being punished by those who are not. It’s inconsiderate, totally,” Dame Naida says.
She says there’s no invite from Ngāti Rehia or Ngapuhi for the hikoi to go to Waitangi, and if people want to celebrate He Whakaputanga they should do so at the place their own tupuna signed it.