Te Matua - Te Tamaiti - Practise in the presence of our history. Nā, Trina Baggett.
Introduction
Acknowledging the kaititotito, Hohepa Tamahama of the waiata, He Kakano Ahau that we’ve chosen to play alongside this koowae ako.
To privilege the voice of Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu Kuia and Kaumātua with Ngāpuhi Speaks. Why is this important? There is a wealth of knowledge shared that challenges the amnesia that has surrounded Aotearoa/New Zealand history. As Moana Jackson so aptly states "Māori did not wake up on the 6th February 1840 across all of Aotearoa and decide to cede their tino rangatiratanga/absolute sovereignty to a Queen in some far away land". We reflect on a quote Rikki Solomon gave when speaking about maramataka and mātauranga Māori, "With maramataka comes mātauranga then maramatanga and using it brings mauri ora". Committing to our mahi/work requires us to commit to understanding and taking action alongside our community members.
He aha/What: This akoranga is an opportunity to explore the independent report commissioned by Kuia and Kaumātua of Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu, He Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Wai 1040 claim.
Whāinga/Aim: To "help clarify the intent of He Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and Te Tiriti o Waitangi from the Ngāpuhi viewpoint" (Hilda Halkyard-Harawira. 2012).
Wā/Time: 60 minutes
Ngāpuhi Speaks
Acknowledgement to Te Taumata Kaumātua o Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu, Te Kawariki and Network Waitangi Whangārei. The publishers have given permission for Trina to copy the attached pages for the purpose of this kaupapa. Please do not share, instead, purchasing the full text Ngāpuhi Speaks is highly recommended, links to where you can purchase are included in the additional resources section.
The independent report was commissioned by Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu Kuia and Kaumātua in the hope that the evidence would truly reflect their voice as lawyers from the Waitangi Tribunal, in their reports, sometimes recast what is said by Kuia and Kaumātua so they don't recognise the information they've given" (Page 5).
The evidence given by Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu Kuia and Kaumātua has been shared by their Tūpuna. Starting here is a good place. We have also included the Waitangi Tribunal report but as Susan Healy aptly points out, "there is huge value in the Waitangi Tribunal report ... but there is a weight towards historical evidence which inevitably is a colonisers view of history ... so we see James Busby's and his actions being given pre-eminence as against the Ngāpuhi evidence".
Ngāpuhi Speaks - collection of chapters from the report.
Ngapuhi Speaks permission to copy Sept 2021.pdf
He Tohu Exhibition He Wakaputanga and Te Tiriti
For those new on this mātauranga journey, you may like to pop ahead to the Ako mai Tāwhiti lesson and explore the resources relevant to He Wakaputanga and Te Tiriti held there, kei a koe.
The transfer of mātauranga, ngā maramataka of events in Māori history, the stirring of thought or call to action can be found through waiata, moteatea, haka.
➡️ Next: Are a series of porokāte/podcasts sharing whakaaro about - He Wakaputanga, Te Tiriti.