August 22, 2023
Kiingitanga about getting the best for Māori
Meanwhile, the new chair of Kiingi Tuheitia’s advisory council says it’s ready to pick up the challenge laid down by the king.
Che Wilson from Ngāti Rangi is the youngest member on Tekaumaarua, but he’s been a member since it was established about 15 years ago.
He says it’s gone through a period of disruption in recent years, including the deaths of some senior members, but it’s now ready to take a wider leadership role in te ao Māori.
He says the Kiingitanga is about working together to overcome colonisation.
“I say we’re colonised because we hear kingitanga and ‘I’m not going to bow down to that king or whoever,’ and it was never like that, it wasn’t a conquering kingdom, it was a kingdom created under an aspiration to bind ourselves to get the best for our people – that’s whānau ora, that’s iwi, that’s land incorporations and trusts, it’s everything,” Mr Wilson says.
He says he felt an air of positive change at this year’s Koroneihana, even with the uncertainty created by an election where some political parties are trying to create fear around things Māori.