Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka / Parihaka Reconciliation Bill details and progress.
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notices and features - Date published:
10:36 am, March 23rd, 2018 - 10 comments
Categories: greens, human rights, Maori Issues, treaty settlements -
Tags: justice, marama davidson., parihaka, Parihaka Reconciliation Bill, te tiriti o waitangi
From greens.org.nz
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Marama Davidson MP on Thursday, March 22, 2018 – 15:45
Ngā manu e rua, Tohu Kākahi, Te Whiti o Rongomai, tēnā kōrua. Ki a koutou ngā uri o Parihaka o Taranaki iwi. Nau mai, haere mai, haere mai. Madam Speaker, it’s really special today to stand in support of Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka, the Parihaka Reconciliation Bill.
I will apologise to the people of Parihaka who are here, while I do recount some of the important history that they have heard and know and live and breathed, but that still today, too many in our country are not aware of and are not familiar with and so I seek to put it on record in the House as part of my contribution.
On the 5th of November, 1881, 1600 soldiers invaded the peaceful settlement of Parihaka in central Taranaki. And this military might, this show of force, was met by tamariki carrying baskets of food, singing waiata. Several thousand other of the residents of Parihaka also remained peaceful on their papakainga, on their land. This military might, this proud, Crown, military might was welcomed to the community with open arms. But that welcome was not at all returned. Parihaka was looted and destroyed. Women and children were raped by the colonial soldiers and the colonial force. Men were shipped away without trial and detained. Many never returned and some remained buried in unmarked mass graves. These events of the 5th of November were just the climax of the Crown’s long campaign of stealing land, of many many years of trying to steal and take from Taranaki what belonged to the iwi of Taranaki. And it was met with many many years of non-violent resistance from the Parihaka community, so that by the 1860s, however, the entirety of Taranaki whenua had been confiscated by the Crown.
Today we stand in this very institution, in this House, the very Crown institution responsible for sanctioning this oppressive injustice and causing generations of harm. It is right that we stand in this House to start to try and make some of the things right. We use legislation from this very institution to sanction the terror that was rained. Thankfully, those bits of law have now been repealed.
I want to again acknowledge the people of Parihaka and Taranaki iwi who are here, who are privileging the presence of ours today and who have long deserved this day—for far too long have been waiting for it. Particularly, I’m pretty sure I spotted whaea Maata Wharehoka earlier today—I’ll make sure I come and say hello—whose whare I have had the deep honour of resting and sleeping in, several nights. I want to acknowledge the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust and also Tina Mason, chair, and the trustees for this incredible piece of work that we are standing to honour today.
Today I’m proud to support Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka / Parihaka Reconciliation Bill. Today we also honour He Puanga Haeata, which was the day of the reconciliation ceremony that took place last year, on 9 June. At this reconciliation ceremony, He Puanga Haeata, the Crown gave their apology for the wrongs caused, and that in itself is a precedent for around the world actually, where we start to own up to what has been done, to the wrong that has been created. On that day, He Puanga Haeata, a legacy statement was also proclaimed. This legacy statement summarises the origins of the peaceful settlement of Parihaka, the values, the history, and the hopes of Parihaka, for Parihaka people and the land. This bill that we are standing to support today records both the Crown apology and that legacy statement.
I was very honoured and warmed that Green MPs, my colleagues, Catherine Delahunty, our previous Tiriti o Waitangi spokesperson, Jan Logie, our current Tiriti spokesperson, and Denise Roche, our previous chair of our Māori caucus, were able to attend. I regret that at that time I caused some very nervous looks from some radiologists and some surgeons here in Wellington, when it appeared that I was going to threaten to get off the table after having my appendix removed, because I just wanted to go. It was actually very upsetting that I couldn’t, but I’m glad it was a beautiful day. I’m just reminded right now how upset I was when I couldn’t drag myself from the hospital to go. But I know that my colleagues and all of our parliamentary reps took my spirit and my aroha for that amazing day.
I want to acknowledge the Hon Chris Finlayson and Te Ururoa Flavell for this incredible work, and I want to take a particular moment to acknowledge the former chair of the Parihaka Papakāinga Trust, Puna Wano-Bryant, for pushing in particular the acknowledgments of the mamae, of the rapes, that happened to the women and the children by the soldiers. I did want to acknowledge the Hon Chris Finlayson for his readiness to not just accept it, but to put it in legislation, to put it in history. That’s a really important step. Even now, he continues to acknowledge that and to make a point and that’s really important, for all of us to move on. And it also was particularly important because it validated our oral histories, because that was the record by which this mamae, this injustice, was recorded.
This bill is an important precedent for creative reconciliation, and it gives us an insight into what can happen when we truly do work together in the spirit of good faith, in the spirit of full acknowledgment, and in the spirit of wondering how we can do better going forward. It’s an important start, and the Crown now has the responsibility and the duty to uphold and demonstrate the good faith that was promised in the apology. Sorry is just the first essential step to making things right, and at all times we must remember the generosity of Parihaka and Taranaki iwi for accepting this reconciliation package.
The Parihaka story is one of the most inspiring stories of non-violent resistance and active mana motuhake for the whole world. It leaves with us some incredible values that, actually, the world and, absolutely, Aotearoa can take inspiration from. It provides us with a blueprint of how we need to reconcile not just Parihaka but our whole country—how we need to reconcile our history and our truth, how we live together, and our relationships with each other and to our land and to our mokopuna to come. This is the beauty of what the Parihaka people are generously, generously affording to all of us, and it’s now our responsibility to make sure we uphold the dignity of Parihaka in the stories that we have to share.
I’m very proud that the Greens also stand in support of a commemoration day—and that has to be led by Parihaka—as part of our nation coming to terms with what has happened. This is a celebration. This is acknowledgment. This is a huge symbolic day for our country, and I’m really honoured to stand here, to speak on it, and I’m feeling a little bit better now. Even though I didn’t get to the actual day, I’m feeling a little bit better that I got to stand up and speak. Kia ora tātou katoa.
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Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka / Parihaka Reconciliation Bill details and progress.
Ma Whero Ma Pango, Ka oti ai te mahi
Kia ora Marama
And to Chris Finlayson, unlike some of your colleagues claiming pride in imaginary outcomes you can claim a strong hand in this one.
Good speech by Davidson.
However, I am going to put some context around this post for balance and perspective. After all TS is supposed to be about the Labour Movement, and not Frog Blog #2, isn’t it?
Davidson’s speech was one of 13 speeches presented yesterday during the first reading of the Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka/Parihaka Reconcilation Bill.
Yesterday’s sitting of the House was attended by a delegation of people from Parihaka in the Public Gallery who were not acknowledged by the Speaker at the opening of the session; but were specifically acknowledged by Winston Peters DPM before he answered (on behalf of the PM) Question 1 from Paula Bennett to the PM.
The First Reading of the Parihaka Reconciliation Bill was opened by Kelvin Davis as lead Minister for Crown/Maori Relations; and it is on subjects like this where IMO he comes into his own, both in Maori and English. He really is not yet comfortable with some other areas of his overall job.
The First Reading was set down for 12 speeches of 10 mins, but the National Party split some of their calls – ie, two people speaking for 5 or so mins each. In total 13 speeches took place:
6 National MPs – Chris Finlayson, Barbara Kruiger, Nuk Korako, Jonathan Young Harete Hipango, and Jo Hayes
5 Labour MPs – Kelvin Davis, Adrian Ruawhe, Willie Jackson, Meka Whaitiri, and Rino Tirikatene (Rino was the last speaker and was followed by a karakia and wiata from the Gallery which is on Video No 13)
1 NZF MP – Jenny Marcroft (at the No 5 slot)
1 Green MP – Marama Davidson (at the No 7 slot).
Of the 13 speeches, all but three National MPs included sections in Te Reo. The exceptions were Finlayson, Kruiger and Young.
Here is the Hansard draft record of the full First Hearing speeches. This does not yet include the Te Reo sections of the ten speeches which included these.
I am not going to put up links to the full list of videos which do include the Te Reo sections but these can be viewed here in the On Demand section of the Parliament website: https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand
They are currently on pages 1 and 2, under the Customs and Excise Bill videos.
“However, I am going to put some context around this post for balance and perspective. After all TS is supposed to be about the Labour Movement, and not Frog Blog #2, isn’t it?”
Not sure what you mean there. It’s nothing to do with the Labour Party, it’s the labour movement. I put the post up because I wanted to amplify Māori voices. Sometimes that comes from the Green Party. If you can recommend other blogposts to Cross Post, please do.
The comments section is of course where commenters can bring in other perspectives, thanks for that, but I would prefer it if you didn’t preface them with partisan potshots about the content of this site. Authors are under no obligation to provide balance or any perspective other than what they want to write. Might pay to reread the About and Policy.
What is Frog Blog?
Its what the NZ Green Party’s Blog used to be called.
https://blog.greens.org.nz/tag/frog-blog/
veutoviper, did you miss that this was built on the back of co-operation, not partisanship, nor people flagulating over their own little fiefdom.
Have to say a bit disappointed you chose to disrespect the people of Parihaka, and their desire to make this a time of co-operation and inclusiveness as part of the healing process.
Adam, you have enunciated the very reasons why I felt compelled to put some context around this posting of one speech only from the 13 speeches from all parties (except ACT*) which took place during the First Reading of the Bill – all of them in support and respect for the aims of the Bill, and the long road that has led to it, and respect for the people of Parihaka to make it a time of co-operation and inclusiveness. (* This does not suggest ACT is opposed to the Bill. )
I know a little of the background to the Bill and the very long road that has been trod by both the people of Parihaka and the advisors, government officials and Parliamentarians that have been involved in the many years of discussion and negotiation that have been finally led to this momentous moment.
Over recent years this long road has transited both the previous National Government and now the Coalition Labour/NZF and Green Government. It has involved advice, support and co-operation from a long list of Parliamentarians (current and past) covering political parties (both current and past) and many others of different persuasions.
Both Kelvis Davis and Chris Finlayson outlined the history of the long road to this point in their speeches – and named many of the people from all parties and sides that were involved in providing advice, support and co-operation to allow this point to be reached. Many of the other speeches also referred to the history of Parihaka and the long road to reconciliation; and the people who have contributed. These of course included Catherine Delahunty and other former Green MPs, but also other former MPs/Minister such as Tariana Turia and Te Ururoa Flavell of the Maori Party, Jim Bolger, Chester Borrows, Mahara Okeroa and many others.
On Thursday, I planned my day around the fact that the Bill was to read for the first time so I could watch the ‘debate’ live. And am pleased that I did. It was truly a momentous event to witness in real time at last.
I am appreciative of weka putting up a post, but Marama Davidson’s speech alone IMO did not reflect the moment without context and reference to all the speeches. As I said Marama’s speech was a good one, and it well received and referred to by the two speakers following her – Jonathan Young and Willie Jackson.
The fact that I chose to do the work to provide a summary and links to all the speeches does not represent disrespect for the people of Parihaka – I intended it as the complete opposite.
And yet you started with a cheap partisan shot. Then have written an essay trying to justify that cheap shot.
Some of us are well aware of what is going on, maybe you should reread my first comment on this post.
Will there be no end to the continual codswallop bleating on about injustice from 137 years ago which is of course code for give us more money to enrich the Maori IWI elite of which hardly any trickles down to the decaying urban Maori population who are in dire straights. No one bleats on about the genocide of the Moriori, their enslavement, slaughter, and being regarded as a source of food for there is no money to be had from that.
Any reputable historian and that excludes the likes of Salmond and Belich paid by the government, will tell you that treaties are mere stop gap measures. As was shown by the Musket wars 1805-1840 Maori philosophy was no different to that of European colonisers world wide. Might is right when you have the power to enforce it.
The mind boggles at the thought of the rest of the world going back to the last say 200 years to rectify and compensate for failed treaties. What an absurdity yet this weird little country carries on with such nonsense.