Why the Treaty of Waitangi is so significant for all Moana people

By FotuoSamoa Jody Jackson 

As Aotearoa commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, I asked some of the Pacific people in my life, in private and on social media about what their thoughts were on the connections of Te Tiriti and Moana people. There was unanimous support and agreement that this is significant, and that we should be interested and taking the time to learn more about it.

The question was, What is Waitangi to you as a Pacific person and why should we care?

From Vaasiliifiti Simon in Christchurch:

“Why should we NOT care? The same challenges happened to us as indigenous people in the past. We were faced with colonisation and it threatened our sovereignty and rights to our land. The Mau o Pule resistance in Savaii Samoa and the movement was born out of it was by the people. So for me, it’s not just a Maori story, it’s a Polynesian story but it’s also a universal story and we must support our brothers and sisters in Aotearoa”.

For the 13 year old in our midst, she couldn’t fathom the stupidity of my question about why we should care: “Are you crazy? We are living in Aotearoa. We have to understand what the Treaty is and we have to know it’s not all celebration mom, you do realise there’s problems with how it was translated and not everyone agreed. Also, did you know not everyone signed? Anyway, it’s not perfect but it’s something that was signed between Maori and non-Maori so that we can co- exist together and show respect. We learn a lot about the Treaty in school so adults should do the same if they don’t quite get it” - Maeva.

From the recently returned sibling from Oman,

“We must care. When we understand then we hopefully can have empathy for the struggles of others. As Polynesians, Maori are our brothers and sisters and we can work together to support them with the challenges they face. The Treaty is an agreement and it’s about respect for Maori and non Maori, but we know and see the inequalities today, so that needs to change in order to honour the Treaty. And lastly, we are on land first settled by tangata whenua. For me, it’s great there is the Treaty, but it’s also a sad day and we need to understand the wrongs that have affected Maori” - Omega Jackson-Hilbron.  

So, with some of these views, I have added a list of reasons why we as Pacific people should definitely care about Te Tiriti O Waitangi:  

* You are living in NZ and Te Tiriti O Waitangi is considered our nation’s founding document that governs the relationship between Maori and non-Maori in Aotearoa. It’s really useful to learn and I have listed below some things you can do before the next Waitangi commemoration that will get you inspired.

* Maori are people of the Moana, like us, and their histories and ours are interwoven and beautifully linked. Many of our Pacific languages are rich with words, stories, beliefs, artefacts and worldviews that are connected, much like the Moana. As the late Prof Epeli Hauofa once said "it is the ocean that connects to us" and for this reason also, it is what unites us. Even our history of voyaging using indigenous methods and knowledge is something to be in awe of and a reminder of our shared histories.  

·  Standing together against injustices:

- In 1981 in the lead up to the Waikato vs Springbok game at Rugby Park, a passionate crowd of gutsy Pacific Islanders, Maori and Pakeha were linking arms and uniting to protest against the apartheid regime in South Africa. This was one of many causes that connected us. We are a nation that unites and works together especially for a just cause.  

- This same willingness and drive to unite for a cause was evident in the ‘Save our Unique Landscape’ campaign at Ihumatao. So many people from all walks of life including Pacific peoples showed up to tautoko those affected and led by a brilliant Pania Newton who were determined to fight for their land.

·  Using your voice for good.

Going back to that 1981 protest at Rugby Park, amongst the crowd was a group of young people, many who travelled from Tamaki Makaurau to organise and protest. They were the Polynesian Panthers. One in particular was a young NZ Niuean named Tigi Ness, who ended up being imprisoned for 9 months for his role in the protest. He went on to become a prolific reggae musician who influenced many, even today.

In an interview in 2009, he shared about what Polynesian Panthers was about: “We were involved in a lot of activism. We were young and rebellious, we wanted to change things. We felt the education system wasn’t geared up for Polynesian people. Also, Pacific Island people and Maori people were being charged exorbitant prices (for housing) – in effect being ripped off. The Panthers employed passive protest to highlight the issues and we did a lot of sit ins”.

·  Maori standing with Pacific Islanders

In the time when Pacific islanders were facing discrimination during the Dawn Raids, Maori allies stood alongside them and protested. Despite being tangata whenua to NZ, they too were subjected to racism and many were stopped and mistaken as overstayers.  Thankfully, we have come a long way from those atrocious policies and continue to unite in causes that benefit our communities.

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Connected through Colonisation by the ‘Realm’:

The support of eminent Maori MP’s Sir Maui Pomare and Sir Āpirana Ngata was integral to the Samoan Mau movement for independence in highlighting the injustices Samoans were suffering under NZ colonial rule.

 Tokelau exists as a dependent territory of NZ and the Cook Islands and Niue are self-governing in free association with NZ. They are all citizens of New Zealand and their cultures and traditions are celebrated and thriving in many places in Aotearoa. The support given by these small Island nations to ‘the realm’ in times of strife, echoing that of Maori is significant.

 Amongst the men who joined the war effort in Europe and the Pacific, were those from the ‘Realm nations’. When the ranks of the Maori Contingent were seriously depleted during the Gallipolli campaign of 1915, 150 Niuean men and over 500 Cook Island men were recruited by NZ to join their forces. The consequences of this were dire particurlary for the Niueans and many lost their lives.

Where to from here?

There are so many more reasons why we should care about the Te Tiriti O Waitangi and it’s impact on people's lives today and so much more we can do.

So, while our nation is the envy of the Covid world today, basking in the sunshine, dancing at festivals and with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern serving sausages at Waitangi, let’s also serve some truths as well. That is, Maori continue to experience disproportionately higher rates of poverty, incarceration, illness, suicide rates and health in Aotearoa today. Those are the issues we should focus on and lend our voices, interest, resources and activism to.

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We can also continue or start should interest in these ways:

• - Learn Te reo Maori
• - Visit the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 by Maori chiefs and the British Crown and learn about it.
• - Find out about the mana whenua of where you live
• - Kaitiakitanga: Respect the sacred spaces that need protecting and especially Rahui because those are in place to protect our environment
• - Respect Tikanga – these are Maori customary practices or behaviours
• - Watch documentary of Tigi Ness: From Street to Sky
• - Read Alice Te Punga Somerville’s epic book, ‘Once Were Pacific: Maori Connections to Oceania.’
• - Check our these 5 Waitangi read suggestions
• - Learn more about the Tales of Taonga, including Tapa throughout the Pacific
• - Watch Marks of Mana, about tatau (tattooing throughout the Pacific)
• - Watch Tales of Taonga – Ancient Polynesian Navigator Tupaia
• - Immerse yourself in Tigilau Ness’s Unity Pacific soulful music, starting with Though we are
• - Get the book, The Adventures of Tupaia, By Courtney Sina Meredith and Mat Tait
• - Call out racism when you see it.
• - Be Kind 😊
• - Be Amazing!

Within the fanua, tangata forms

Upon the whenua, we harvest

Nourish the beating heart of a child:

Tamariki

Manava – Breath – Manawa – Heart

Unto the soil, the pito and fanua - umbilical cord is buried,

Immersed in

Fenua

Tamariki:

crawl, step lightly, leaps

Imprinting footsteps unto the earth,

Tulaga Vae / Turanga Waewae.

Until one day, he shall return,

Deep within the land

We, Whenua.