Ngāti Toa condemns anti-vax haka hijack

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 09: Protestors perform a haka during a Freedom and Rights Coalition protest at Parliament on November 09, 2021 in Wellington, New Zealand. Protesters gathered outside parliament calling for an end to Covid restrictions and vaccine mandates in New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Ngāti Toa is condemning the use of its haka Ka Mate in anti-vax protests.

Chair Taku Parai says the iwi sees Covid-19 as a threat to its people and is assisting vaccination efforts.

He’s angry at reports Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki intends to teach the haka to people attending future protests against vaccine mandate.

Mr Parai says as the descendendants of Te Rauparaha, Ngāti Toa insists protestors stop using their taonga immediately.

Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira chief executive Helmut Modlik says many tūpuna lost their lives in previous pandemics.

COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection available, and the rūnanga supports supporting whānau to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

He says protests are promoting the views of individuals ahead of the needs of collective whānau, which is not rangatiratanga.

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