February 08, 2024
Toitū te Tiriti message delivered
A member of the Toitū te Tiriti protest group says getting on to the marae atea allowed the group to deliver its message to the Government loud and clear.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon asked organisers to let the group forward during the forum sesion after Monday’s powhiri.
Eru Kapa-Kingi says it’s the biggest Waitangi commemoration he’s attended, showing how te iwi Māori are growing and embracing their culture.
They were also able to turn Te Whare Ruananga into a more political space.
“That’s what a marae is meant to be for. But it’s become, from my perspective, overly influenced from kind of government preferences. And I would like to see kind of a revival or a return of the wairua of the forum tents to the marae, where it all started,” he says
Mr Kapa-Kingi says activists like Hone Harawira, Annette Sykes and Hilda Harawira have passed their legacy of outspoken activism to a new generation.