Ngati Whatua: Letter to PM John Key
Tena koe e te Minita e John,
I also on behalf of our Tribal Leaders Grant Hawke (Chairman Orakei Trust Board,) & Naida Glavish, (Chairwoman Te Runanganui o Ngati Whatua) would also like to acknowledge you for enabling us the descendants of Ngati Whatua to be included in the entire process from the blessing of the Maori Flag that took place at Transit HQ 05/02/10 (Auckland), to of the raising of the (Maori Flag) on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge on the Morning of Waitangi Day (6.15am).
We would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Te Minita ? ng? take M?ori (Doctor Pita Sharples), Pauline Kingi and her team at Te Puni Kokiri, Takawai Murphy for facilitating the consultation hui throughout the motu, and in more recent times the efforts of Chris Tooley, and Hone Harawira for his relentless support to ensure that Ngati Whatua were an integral part of all proceedings, and I am happy to report, that thanks to Wayne McDonald, and all of his staff of the Auckland transit branch, we were, and look forward to consolidating the relationship with the members of Transit and the assistance of Mr Maxwell as Kaitiaki of Te Kara Maori on Auckland harbour bridge.
I must also pay tribute to the efforts of Matua Rodger Maxwell (Kaitakawaenga Transit) Amster Reedy for assisting us with the blessing of the Flags, Ewart Barnsley (Media Manager Transit) and Vonny Jackson for making sure that the lines of communication were never closed until the objective had been achieved, and last but not least John & Richard (Transit Bridge Maintenance) for instructing myself and my daughter Majic on the protocols on how best to raise the flag on the Bridge.
The experience for me personally was surreal, many things came to mind in those few brief moments as I stood atop the bridge, and as the flag slowly but surely reached its way to the top of the flag pole. Our connections with the original inhabitants Nga Oho that link us to Tainui / Waikato. Kiwi Tamaki Paramount chief of The Wai-o-hua. Te Waha-akiaki, Leader and Chief of Te Taou who occupied Te Onewa Pah, giving us (Ngati Whatua) a physical not just a spiritual connection to the land on which the Auckland harbour Bridge was erected.
The de-construction and burning of our village in 1951 by the state. The Hikoi 75, Takutai Moana 2004, Super City May 25 2009 commemorating 31yrs since the eviction of over 220 people the majority being descendants of the tribe. These things and many others are what these colours represent to me, the history of a peoples strive for self determination. A confirmation of the sovereignty that was guaranteed by King William IV on the 25th May 1836, and re-confirmed by Te Kawau, Te Reweti, & Te Tinana, signing the treaty on the shores of Manukau March 20 1840 with the belief that they would be instrumental also in framing the laws of the land. .
No reira, Mr Prime Minister, (Kia kaha, Kia Maia, Kia Manawanui) Be strong, Have Courage, and Remain Steadfast in the knowledge that this is the flag that will continue to carry the aspirations of the future generation. Let the authority of the flags that fly on the respective Marae represent the Marae, let the Flags that represent the respective Hapu and Iwi remain with the Iwi (hei tohu Mana-Motuhake) as a sign of their tribal authority that derives from their lands forests and seas… let the Whakaminenga remain, to remind us of an autonomy that was confirmed and guaranteed by a King. And let the Maori Flag created by Hiraina, Jan and Linda be the catalyst to restore and reunite Te Iwi Maori. Three colours, Two people, One Nation (He Iwi Kotahi Tatou).
In closing, we would like to thank Te Kawariki for the handing over of this taonga to the nation, and will do our utmost to ensure that the integrity and the wairua of this kara is maintained at all times that the flag is flown in Tamaki and within our tribal boundaries.
It is unfortunate to say the least that some of media have released so many misleading statements about the flag, Hone and Hilda, in an attempt to discredit the colours and cause discontent amongst many of those who do not fully understand the wider issues.
All I can say is that each year, amidst all of the angst, prejudices and propaganda, I see more and more people flaunting, and flying the colours not just at Waitangi, but at festivals all over Aotearoa / NZ and the world, and as Hone stated as he stood beneath the flag pole at the treaty grounds this year.
“This is the Flag of the future, widely embraced my the chiefs of tomorrow”
“and it’s a bit like the shampoo advert, it might not happen today,
(Re: the flag not flying at Waitangi this year) but it will happen!”
Nga mihi ki a taatou katoa!
Ropata Paora (Te Taou o Ngati Whatua)
