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December 12, 2023
Te Pāti Māori backs iwi decision to file Waitangi Tribunal claim
Media Release
Posted On December 12, 2023
MEIDA RELEASE : Te Pāti Māori backs iwi decision to file Waitangi Tribunal claim
Member of Parliament for Waiariki and Te Pāti Māori co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, has this morning backed calls from Tauranga-Moana iwi, Ngāi Te Rangi, in their decision to file for a Waitangi tribunal claim to protect Te Reo Māori.
“The fight for Te Reo Māori has been an intergenerational war against a system that has oppressed it’s use. It was beaten out of our kaumātua, and now the government are using their force and might to strip it out of government organisations,” said Waititi.
“Te Pāti Māori backs Ngāi Te Rangi’s decision to file a Waitangi tribunal claim against the attrocity proposed by the anti-Māori coalition government.
“Te iwi Māori and those committed to a Tiriti centric Aotearoa have the right to be concerned. You seen the multitudes of people coming together last week who are genuinely concerned and even affraid of this governments agenda.
“Te Reo Māori is the only official spoken language in this country.
“ The message this government is sending young tamariki is that it’s not ok to speak Te Reo Māori. That they shouldn’t be comfortable with their Māoritanga. That Te Reo Māori is not good enough.
“This should be a clear signal that te iwi Māori won’t be accepting any rubbish from the new coalition government. It puts all breaches of Te Tiriti on notice.
“I commend Ngāi Te Rangi for leading this out. I would hope that every other settled iwi do the same to assert their tino rangatiratanga and their rights.”
[ENDS]
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