Hariru Wikitoria (How-de-doo Queen Victoria)

This is a poem I have penned as a submission to the Constitution discussion currently under way:

Hariru Wikitoria

We salute you Queen Victoria

For giving us  Treaty

In 1840 at Waitangi

We said we wanted chieftainship

You helped yourself  to sovereignty

We gave you dark shadow

Cast down by  cloud

We kept the substance under foot

Or so we thought

We put moko to paper

Crosses and names

On Hobson’s wax sealed parchment

From Kaitaia to Greenstone Land

And the deed was surely done

Or so we thought.

God’s people in missions

Pre 1840 Treaty

Turned us from war

Blamed Satan for  guns

And all those flu,

measles and other pandemics

Were wrath of God not Pakeha

So pray and pray

And pray ehoa

For Christian immunity

Or so we thought.

Soon substance under  foot

Became theirs not ours

They squared our land

Surveyor did

And kept huge pieces

Bits reserved for us.

Their mana cleansed it clean

Of   indigenous Native

Replaced by Hegemony, 

Colonisation, Legislation, 

And hoha Civilization

Or so they thought

Taihoa Maori taihoa ra

Wikitoria gave you good

Like justice, law and order

Now let’s you claim

For all wrongs done

Since 1840 aye

So;

Before the cut off point is reached

Get your wai  to Waitangi

Tribunal don’t be late.

They need to scrub and clear the decks

For newest constitution

Clear Wikitoria from history

And them from perjury.

Aue!

Justice has a cut off point?

And Treaties dates used by?

Like sausages and milk

And all things  perishing

On Supermarket shelves?

So;

Before they cut you off our Queen

And backdoor this Republic

Your sovereignty was but shadow

And chiefs  mere  noughts and crosses

On ragged Treaty parchment

Therefore;

Worry not for whom clock chimes

You Maori get in line

Clock tick tocks to the future 

Amnesia is the past

The jingles are the $$$

They’re not for you, e hoa

  

But

One law for all and all for one

Republic here we come

Before more Asians come and come

And take majority.

That’s what  I  think.

Atihana M. Johns

Maori Politics And Ikaroa-Rawhiti

To begin with it is going to be hard to fill the footprints left by Horomia. That man was everywhere and not only in his own rohe. I had the privilege of meeting him in the Far North, Wellington, and Auckland. Who ever takes his place need not try to emulate him but the fact is he has set for them some high expectations in that electorate especially for the Labour candidate who has yet to be chosen (25th May 2013). I used to be a member of Labour and active in the 1960s. By the 1970s I was a more passsive member.

Back then Labour Maori candidates during first past the post were chosen by the Maori Policy Committee of the party. Being rather too keen and naive I thought that it's main job was Maori Policy formation like its name said. This was true for the most part but I was at that time caught up in the selection process of choosing a successor to Mrs. Iriaka Ratana who was retiring. It turned out that the Chairman of this policy committee had a big say as to who that successor was and the Chairman Mr. Ralph Love was away in South Africa on Rugby Union business! The two leading Maori Labour MPs then involved the committee in a huge wrangle over the selection of the Chair. Two meetings lasted until midnight with no result but in the last meeting, by midnight the committee kicked the ball to the Labour Executive and finally under Whetu Tirikatene's leadership we started writing our committees report for the next morning to present to the Conference. And completed it by 3am.

The next morning early, we were running our report off the Gestetner and stapling it ready. By that time Ralph came back from South Africa and presented it. That was good old fashioned Labour. I remember looking around at the activity in the Gestetner room and saying out loud; "There's no doubt about us Maori. We are only good with our hands." We had a good laugh, but I felt this huge hand on my shoulder. It was Norm Kirk who said; "That's not true, mate." Koro Wetere was the successful candidate. How he was selected I don't know but I think he was the incumbent's choice.

I see now that Labour has to choose from six candidates and three meetings. Wow. Times have changed. So has my politics. But I hope Labour picks someone they can all support. As far as their opposition is concerned, I don't know Raihania for the the Maori Party. Hamua is a good choice for Mana and his appeal will be to the rangatahi. He has to get them off their butts to vote. I wish them all the best.

The Ninga Invasion Of Tuhoe

The Independent Inquiry of the Urewera Raids in 2006 have finally concluded and in doing so have  applied spots of black in their white wash of the police actions against mainly but not only Tuhoe. They concluded that such actions as the road blocks, photographing and taking the names of innocent people going on about their lawful business like taking children to Kohanga Reo were "illegal" which is a kinder word for "criminal". Anyone who did the same would be jailed quick smart. Think what would happen if you confined a child to a room without access to a toilet and you had that ridiculous Ninga outfit copied from American TV shows, dark glasses and a gun. A child wouldn't know which planet you came from.

www.maortelevision.com/news/national/ipca-recommendation

www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/harawira-calls-police-commisioner-resign

The report says that road blocks and the manner in which the police conducted themselves etc were illegal. In fact that word is apparently repeated a number of times. But it's rather like buying a car from second hand dealer Min.Justice Car Dealers and saying it's a good car even though the gear box and the radiator is missing. The report maintains that the reason for the raid is OK but like the car, a few things were not right. It's odd really. The top brass who organised the "Urewera Raid" must surely have spelt out to the Ningas in detail what they were to do; ie block the road at the aukati  line that separates Tuhoe from land confiscated off them in the 19th Century, photograph people, and do other illegal things. They were following orders not using their initiative.

What should happen now? Well an inquiry should be widened to do the following;

1. Who were the top brass responsible for ordering what turned out to be illegal? (With a view to dismissing, demoting or charging them for ordering those "illegals.") The Big Kahuna however is already gone.

2. A thorough review of what happened to the innocent victims children and adults and giving them their "day in Court."

3. Compensation for sure to fix damage to property like broken doors bashed down in order to gain illegal entry. And some acknowledgement and assistance for the victims.

4.  An inquiry into the extent to which the SIS or GCSB were involved in gathering information for the raid. The then Minister of Police Annette King says Ministers are not involved in police raids but the PM responsible for Security Intelligence may have known.

These boys were locked in a shed by the Ningas 

while they illegally searched the house. As you can

see they are Tuhoe. 

Let's hope that no more such armed raids are ever contemplated again against any group. It does seem that we are developing far right paranoia similar what what is daily spewed out by "Fox TV."

Haititaimarangai Marae DIY 24-27 April Part One

Wednesday 24: This day began with a powhiri for the DIY Marae-AIA people and a squad from the Royal Engineers who joined this and other DIYs in order to fullfill the kind of work experience not available during their courses. Karakia as per our marae tikanga began this endeavour and the mihi followed by myself. The manuwhiri which by then included Mangu Awarau from Ngai Takoto and Te Whanau Moana who began the reply. Then Te Ori Paki for the DIY Team replied. I had mentioned all his connections especially to Tainui and the Kingitanga; except Tuhoe. How could I have forgotten? Old age I suspect. The rakau was returned to us and Timoti Hetaraka did the honours. Our waiata and himene was so well sung by Kura Kaupapa O Rangiawhia tamariki tuakana. These are only words. I find it difficult to describe what to me was the most memorable powhiri I had ever experienced  at my home marae; and for once it had to be held outside on our little marae-a-tea. I was humbled and proud at the same time.

After some lengthy meetings to prepare so that everyone knew what to do, away the workers went and the ringa wera under the able leadership of Awhi Hetaraka in the kauta; a tent on the carpark prepared the first kai. The rest was a frenzy; heavy machinery, builders, labourers, landscapers, etc, etc. Down came the walls of the lean to, and  up went the framing, post diggers drilled and one could see where the new timber fences would go and the new waharoa which we never had before. And so it went; by 2pm or later' no one seemed interested in lunch but we had one and after that and another meal, the work went on until midnight. 

Thursday 25th ANZAC DAY: This was at 5.30am and the first one ever in my experience on this marae; although I do remember one held at the old Rangiawhia School but not at 5.30am! This was ably led by Rev and former Lt.Col. Stanley Pilbrow. Ven Timoti Flavell and ex-soldier Timoti Hetaraka also officiated. The army engineers stripped off their work gear and in full uniform acted as a guard of honour next to our new flagpole erected only the day before by Shane Horan our marae team chief for the whole project which he began at least six weeks before. Sgnt Timoti Hetaraka donated the NZ flag. This was another memorable Anzac Day in my experiemce. Our WW1 soldiers specifically from our rohe were Pvt. Hamuera Rupapera, Pvt. Hopa Riwhi (Tiini), Pvt. Hurae Hetaraka, Peretiti Hetaraka Heta, and Reihana Matiu. Hopa and Hurae died of trench disease and are buried over seas. Peretiti returned but died a year after his return and the others returned. Our WW2 28 Maori Battalion soldiers were; Pvt. Mu Hetaraka, Sgnt. Horiana Rupapera, Pvt. Eriha Davis (POW), Pvt. Patana Matiu and Pvt Ranga Raharuhi who was killed in action on Crete. 

Click To Enlarge:

After this it was back to work and the same frenzy of skilled construction took place right into the night; some say that work didn't stop for some until midnight. Work had started on the roof of both buildings. The new extention of the wharehui was wrapped in walls by the afternoon but nowhere near completed.