Boycott powhiri, says Sharples

Pita Sharples

The Maori Party is calling for Maori staff in Government institutions to boycott powhiri.

Party spokesman Pita Sharples issued the challenge yesterday, in support of a Wellington kaumatua council's call for the Corrections Department to abandon Maori welcomes because it is not doing them properly.

Corrections dropped the use of powhiri in favour of a whakatau - a less formal welcome - after the furore sparked by Josie Bullock, then a probation officer, who demanded to sit in the front row.

National MP Judith Collins recently walked out of a Child, Youth and Family powhiri after claiming she was rebuked for sitting at the front.

Helen Clark used the situation to declare a new edict - women would be able to sit in the front row during powhiri run by state agencies or institutions.

But Dr Sharples said: "It's common sense to say if you are going to do something Maori, please work with your local Maori. And if you do it, you do it full on, you don't change the rules."

Helen Clark's attempt to enshrine the policy was "ridiculous". Dr Sharples felt traditional powhiri was being "bastardised" and local Maori ignored when it was performed.

Dr Sharples said he supported the right of women to speak on a marae and to be seated prominently but until each marae decided whether they would change their protocols, the status quo should remain.

If Maori working for the Government couldn't respect the kawa (etiquette) of the local people when it came to powhiri "they must boycott it or even refuse to let it happen".

Te Tai Tokerau MP Dover Samuels said while the kawa of the local people should be respected on their marae, powhiri at Government agencies were different.