It is interesting comparing an opinion piece from columnist Sarah Sparks writing on the “Stuff” website recently — on the decline in trust in government institutions in many parts of the world — with some wise comments attributable to one of our late great Ngati Porou leaders, Dr Apirana Mahuika.
During a speech some years ago, Uncle Api was responding to questions related to his dislike of “partnerships” as a vehicle for establishing a basis for political cooperation that would satisfy the needs of minority groups struggling in a modern society.
He preferred the process of “whakawhanaungatanga” that involved the establishment of working “relationships” that allowed those who had historical and moral rights under the Treaty of Waitangi to achieve self-determination based on TRUST of a governance system that acknowledged the tangata whenua position as an equal partner.
Dr Mahuika’s intellectual overview was the result of years studying what worked and what didn’t.
He said that “partnerships” based on political strength were always going to deliver unequal outcomes for minority groups and it was a waste of time suggesting ways of peaceful coexistence when those who had the numbers would always demand and achieve control.
