GUEST BLOG: Vanessa Kururangi – That cloak isn’t cosplay Prime Minister

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Our TED Talk P.M lied when she said the government couldn’t do anything.

She did a turn around and halted the construction. So there was and still is something the govt. can do.

It’s all about timing – colonisers tactics are to be seen to act, then fuck around with details. Seen it a million tines before. Give people a false sense that the government is taking steps to sort it out – hoping we’ll relax and stay away because the “crisis is no longer”.

This is the time to straighten our backs, dig our boots into the soil and remain steadfast.

Demand more. The govt. can easily pay out Fletchers and turn the land into a World Heritage sight under the guardianship of the people.

Jacinda wearing kahu huruhuru (Māori cloak) to meet the Queen of England like she was attending a cos play conference. Does she even “indigenous”?

Vanessa Kururangi is a State House Tenant Advocate

10 COMMENTS

  1. All that Māori need to win is market are market forces.

    It’s the Crown that needs the police and threats of violence to win.

    It’s a different mindset. One that can shift the goal posts in the favour of Ihumātao.

    Ihumātao now have a renewed opportunity to sue for peace. It’s a once in a life time opportunity.

  2. Of course more can be done. Once the building is stopped.
    The land can be secured by Govt who have the power to do that without impediment.
    Undoing the confiscation will then be seen as a possibility in principle.
    There are many potential contributors who can add to discussion about how the historic site can be preserved as such in a functional way with Kaitiaki nurturing the kaupapa.

  3. You’re right that this government is good with the words but very little action. Definitely a time to dig in. Keep the protest alive and dont leave. Nothing has changed until it does. Beware the sleep inducing effect of words and stay staunch and awake

  4. The Queen herself wore a korowai in 1954, so it’s not exactly a groundbreakingly new idea for a non-Māori public figure to do so. You can find a photo at Te Ara: https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/41162/queen-elizabeth-ii-wearing-a-korowai-1954. Come to think of it, US President Calvin Coolidge wore an ‘Indian war bonnet’ as they called it then, in the 1920s: https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/native-history-pres-calvin-coolidge-summers-in-black-hills-adopted-by-sioux-amexp-1vkUOt5CFH8Us8qg/.

  5. I’m inclined to agree with turning the land into a World Heritage park ,… complete with walkway and signage to explain the various activity’s that took place there so that people can understand the mode of life, length of duration of land use , – it could even have a kiosk affair with film showings artists renditions and archaeological findings and the like… providing employment.

    You could even put in groves of native trees in selected areas, especially the ones utilized by the Maori for pragmatic use in everyday articles or medicinal purposes . The list is endless.

    It would be a place where overseas academics could visit or study online, along with NZ children doing school assignments – school bus trips even. A picturesque area where people can relax, take in the sights and scenery , have a coffee and a muffin… perhaps even sporting activity’s of historic import- the weaving of flax kites and flying them, – or even just trying ones hand at weaving a basic Kete bag … who knows? It could be as varied as ones imagination.

    And doing that would help with paying the rates , and forever preserve it as a cultural center. Win win.

    Just a few thoughts.

    Certainly not turned into just another unsightly sea of houses after all the historical and archaeological aspects have been disrespectfully bulldozed under … the area deserves better than that. Far better.

    • There is a danger allowing commercial buildings and private business on reserve land. Nearby maybe, but not on a reserve or land put aside for historical/environmental purposes.
      You can feed your face with cafes in many places but leave a reserve as such.
      Even “educational” facilities can grow into more than information displays with simple open shelters.
      Activities such as “learning to weave” offered by arrangement.
      A historic site not an amusement park.

  6. Remember her line during & after the Terrorist Attack and throughout the aftermath when the international media fell in love with her!?

    “THIS IS NOT US”.

    Have another look in the mirror and say that like you mean it! And that this jingo applies to the way you are treating Raupatu and the Maori of today at Ihumaatao. Calling the thousands of supporters ‘rangatahi’.

    Time to climb down princess, the honeymoon looks like its over!

    • You’re off your head, taking everything out of context. Really surprised the moderators let your post go through.

  7. The govt are not going to make the decisions, its up to the relevant parties to do that, all the govt is doing is trying to get the parties talking to each other to work out a solution that they can all live with, which they have already tried previously.

    “Mr Henare said MPs met with Fletchers, local iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki, and SOUL, but were unable to reach a consensus about how to move forward”
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/395100/ihumatao-protest-govt-will-not-intervene-pm-says

    Peeni Henare warns Government buying Ihumātao land will ‘undermine every Treaty settlement done to date’
    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2019/07/peeni-henare-warns-government-buying-ihumatao-land-will-undermine-every-treaty-settlement-done-to-date.html

    There are calls for the govt to step in and there are calls for it to be worked out “between Maori by Maori”
    The Maori council said “respectfully asks that all parties involved in the Ihumātao dispute take a step back in order that these matters can be resolved between Maori and by Maori… would also strongly urge all parties who are not Maori to stop interfering in Maori Affairs – our people are more than capable of resolving these types of issues in the right environment – kanohi ki te kanohi.”
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1907/S00298/ihumatao-statement-from-the-new-zealand-maori-council.htm

    • Maori did not do the confiscation.
      “Peeni Henare warns Government buying Ihumātao land will ‘undermine every Treaty settlement done to date’”

      Yes there will be aspects common to other confiscations ans settlements but there is not other situation that has the same issues at stake nor the same opportunity to rectify the historical in justice so easily.

      That restraint will not encourage a landslide of confiscation redress.
      Each situation on its own merits.
      Lets not be scared of creating trust in today’s Govt to look at redressing past crimes.

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