Treaty of Waitangi not merely a historical document, but ‘foundational and living’ – MTG

MTG staff members Te Hira Henderson and Laura Vodanovich.

Opinion

With the lead-up to Waitangi Day next week and the current Parliamentary discussion around the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, this is a hot topic.

Rather than enter into the current debate, we thought we would take another approach and instead appreciate the fact Te Tiriti o Waitangi is being discussed on the streets.

The contention around the proposed bill has prompted New Zealanders to have a conversation about who we are, what the Treaty means, what the principles are, how they and the Treaty apply today, and where we want to head as a country. With over 300,000 submissions on the proposed bill, it has certainly made us, as a nation, stop and think.

This topical debate led to Laura Vodanovich and myself (Te Hira Henderson) sharing our own understanding of the Treaty, our views on the way it should be interpreted and upheld, and what the future under the Treaty might hold.

As Laura said, “The Treaty is not merely a historical document – it is the foundational living document for Aotearoa.”

As tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti, we hold similar but not identical views. Working together as we do each day in the museum world, we are regularly navigating this subject, and as New Zealand evolves, so too does the way we understand and embody the Treaty.

With each new generation, there are new thoughts regarding how we should be, how the Treaty applies and what is needed next. In discussing this column and deciding together what we wanted to say, Te Hira Henderson noted, “Māori music of the 70s and 80s was all protest songs, while now it’s joyous and a rich mix.”

This generation is different from the one he grew up in – more globally connected and more aware of options regarding how we could evolve. I also observed that since the bill was proposed, more Pākehā are approaching him to discuss the Treaty, and that is a good thing – having kōrero about the Treaty is positive.

Before Waitangi Day, we have the anniversary of the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake on February 3. The impact of this event, like most disasters and tragedies, results in moments where our whakapapa/genealogy doesn’t matter – we’re all just people who are either in need or able to help. Māori, Pākehā, male, female, New Zealander, foreign visitor, rich, poor; it doesn’t matter.

Cyclone Gabrielle was another example, where everyone pitched in where they could with no thought about who they were helping, just who needed help.

Whatever side of the Treaty debate you sit on and however you choose to commemorate, celebrate or mourn the upcoming anniversaries, in a time where the world seems to be more and more divisive, we hope we find a way to move forward together as a country.