Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins at Waitangi. Both deserve a cheer for their defence of women’s speaking rights.Photo / Getty Images
Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins at Waitangi. Both deserve a cheer for their defence of women’s speaking rights.Photo / Getty Images
OPINION:
A loud cheer for Judith Collins, for standing up for all female political leaders, whether Pākehā or Māori, to speak during the politicians' pōwhiri at Te Whare Rūnanga, Waitangi's upper marae.
The Herald reports that Collins said the decision not to let her speak had disappointed her — itwas important that women growing into leadership roles knew they had the same rights as men in such situations.
"It isn't only about me or politicians, it's about all women — wāhine toa — who wish to be able to have their say."
Another cheer for Jacinda Ardern — given a speaking slot for the fourth year in a row — who said she would support a move to allow other women leaders to speak. "I was heartened to hear that call being made that next year it would be different. It would be fantastic to allow all leaders to speak, just as I have that privilege."
It was inspiring to see the photo of Ardern and Collins sitting side by side at Waitangi, with the Prime Minister holding the hand of veteran activist Titewhai Harawira; a sharp contrast to that bruising incident in the late 1990s when then Labour leader Helen Clark was challenged by Harawira, who argued against her having speaking rights.
But two decades on, the histrionics persist.
This time it is Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson who had to introduce a sour note by saying Collins lacked "cultural expertise" and should leave the debate over who can speak on marae to wāhine Māori.
Davidson obviously doesn't know Collins that well. Or, for that matter, many other New Zealand women who are impatient for what is fundamentally a sexist silo to be abolished.
Davidson argues it should be Māori female leaders who make the calls. Well too bad. If Waitangi is to be heralded as New Zealand's founding day, it has to move with the times.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. Photo / Dean Purcell
The full recognition of the female leaders who are now calling the shots in this country has moved at glacial speed at what should be a day when all New Zealanders can celebrate.
It's also taken the best part of half a century for women to receive full recognition as leaders in New Zealand.
We tend to cite the historical milestones. The three female prime ministers, three female governors-general and two female chief justices — and a strong bevy of female public service chief executives.
In contrast, the US has finally elected a female vice-president. Australia has had just one female PM and the UK has had two such leaders.
But there are still very few women leading publicly listed companies in New Zealand as chief executives. More have emerged at directorate and chair levels, with a lamentable number of younger women wanting to go straight into governance careers rather than working their way up the corporate ladder first.
Notably, it is three of the Australian banks which have promoted women to CEO roles.
Groups like Champions for Change aim to change this.
Predominantly, Waitangi weekend has become a time of national reflection.
Symbolism matters.
There is a current presumption that anyone who is Māori is disadvantaged. That all Māori need a leg-up — whether it comes to favourable admission to medical schools or for that matter getting vaccines against Covid.
And that Waitangi should be the focus for Māori to hold government to account for delivering on the grand Treaty bargain.
Ardern gets this and ticked the boxes: the resolution her Government had forged at Ihumatao; reductions in prisoner numbers; and the reforms at Oranga Tamariki — to name just some improvements.
Yes, Māori social outcomes need to be improved — across health, justice and housing.
But is this simply a government responsibility?
The female Māori leaders who want all Māori to take full responsibility for their babies instead of an interfering state should also be celebrated.
There are many stellar Māori leaders.
The Deloitte Top 200 charts the annual progress of the top 10 Māori commercial organisations. In 2020, those organisations collectively represented over $7.1 billion in assets. Much of that wealth has been built on the back of Treaty settlements.
But the Māori economy is much larger than that, as a recent report produced by Berl in partnership with the Reserve Bank shows. Te Ohanga Māori 2018 points to a wider range of business activities than farming, forestry and fisheries — an increasingly diverse asset base and growing skilled workforce which is also young.
Federation of Māori Authorities chair Traci Houpapa is one female leader who says there is more to it than Treaty settlements and marae tours.
"Trusts, incorporations, businesses, pre- and post-Treaty settlement organisations, individuals, the labour force, household incomes and there's quite a rich tapestry and a complex ecosystem that defines and denotes the Māori economy and it's great everyone is talking about it today," Houpapa says.
So, let's make Waitangi not just about airing grievances.
There is much to celebrate in the advances Māori have made.
Surely it is time to drop the victimhood and inspire younger generations to build?
