MEDIAWATCH: 1 year on from Oxford Debating Speech win

Labour MP Willie Jackson emerges a winner at University of Oxford debate

Te Ao with Moana reporter Hikurangi Jackson went with his father, Labour MP Willie Jackson, who had been invited to Britain for a traditional University of Oxford debate.

Willie Jackson was the first Māori person to be invited to the oldest university in Britain to take part in the debate. The moot was whether British museums were British, with Jackson arguing they were.

Next week it will have been 1 year since Willie Jackson won the Oxford Debating Speech.

What did Winston Peters say before Willie left?

How belittling of Winston.

Nice to think Matua Winston had to eat his words, because Willie won!

Since the speech, the British Museum has committed to returning more Māori relics…

From Matakana to London – printmaker visits UK capital to see taonga that inspired his art

The discussion around the return of indigenous artefacts to their countries of origin was highlighted earlier this year, when Willie Jackson visited London.

He became the first Māori to debate at Oxford Union, arguing why British Museums are very British.

“British Museums are very, very British. Because it’s very, very, very British to take from indigenous people and never give it back,” Jackson says.

…and Mākereti Papakura who he referenced in his opening has been awarded a posthumous degree…

Posthumous degree for “groundbreaking” Māori woman

A university has awarded a posthumous degree to its first female student from an indigenous community, more than 100 years after she began her studies.

Born in New Zealand in 1873, Mākereti Papakura is believed to be the first Māori woman to enrol at the University of Oxford.

The university said she had explored the customs of her people of the Māori Te Arawa iwi [tribe] from a female perspective through her “groundbreaking” research. But she died in 1930, just weeks before she was due to present her thesis.

Prof Irene Tracey, Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford, will award the degree of MPhil in Anthropology at a ceremony in the Sheldonian theatre later in the year.

…so not only did Willie win, his speech created real change.

How are dem cowboys Winston?

Willie’s son, Hiku produced one of the best stories of 2024…

…Willie got very little recognition for this.

He deserved a lot more.

He did us all incredibly proud.

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