Organisers want a peaceful hīkoi to Parliament. Photo / File
Organisers want a peaceful hīkoi to Parliament. Photo / File
A free legal helpline has been set up as the Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi sets off from Te Rerenga Wairua Cape Rēinga today for Parliament, where the Treaty Principles Bill will come under the microscope.
Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Māori Law Society, posted a pānui about the helpline on social media “Pānui regarding pro bono assistance during next week’s Toitū Te Tiriti hīkoi”.
The post explains about the helpline and its purpose.
“Te Hunga Rōia Māori have set up a phone number to provide free assistance with police and criminal related inquiries during or related to the @toitu_te_tiriti hīkoi next week.
“Should you require this type of assistance, please contact 0212172009 and someone will be able to help you.”
“However should you find yourself needing this assistance please reach out. Kia ora”.
The pānui has been well received by followers, with comments on the post including:
“Taukē! How awesome are our people. Thank you, Te Hunga Roia Māori ❤️,” said one person.
And “Ka rawe! Pai tēnei whakaaro 🔥”, by another follower.
Te Hunga Rōia Māori comments
Echo Haronga, a co-convenor of Te Hunga Rōia Māori’s criminal law reform kōmiti.
Echo Haronga (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga), a co-convenor of Te Hunga Rōia Māori’s criminal law reform kōmiti, told Te Ao Māori News the helpline was an important way for Māori lawyers to manaaki whānau.
“It is appropriate to reflect on how we as Māori lawyers can express our manaaki in a meaningful way to whānau who are on the hīkoi, and this phoneline is one of many ways our members will be involved in and supporting the hīkoi.”
She said Te Hunga Rōia Māori and the Māori caucus of the Community Law Centres of Aotearoa had partnered on the helpline to “make available our Māori lawyers” to assist with legal queries regarding the hīkoi.
The helpline is not intended to replace existing services there to help “all people of Aotearoa” access justice, she said.
“This phoneline will operate from Monday 11th November – Tuesday 19th November. It is to assist whānau with legal concerns that arise while on the hīkoi, ensuring they can speak with a Māori lawyer.
“These queries may relate to rights with police, police conduct, employment law, family, truancy issues, and other related questions.
“In addition to the phone line, we have provided some public education material relating to rights around protest and rights with police which will be made available on social media.”
It hadn’t been possible to have Māori lawyers on the ground with the hīkoi to provide support, she said.
“Given the dynamic nature of the hīkoi, it is logistically challenging to have lawyers present at identifiable locations. Therefore, we will use a helpline in the first instance to assist whānau with hīkoi-related legal inquiries.”
As this is a peaceful hīkoi, she said they were not anticipating being inundated with requests for assistance.
“We are not expecting to receive a large number of calls.”
Haronga said she is not aware of a similar helpline having been offered previously by the organisation.
“To my knowledge, this is the first time a dedicated phone line has been established.
“Otirā me mihi ka tika ki ngā rangatira o mua, pērā i a Moana Jackson, and the OGs [originals] of our hunga, like whaea Annette Sykes, who have long championed protest actions.”
Final reminder for whānau.
“We wish to remind whānau that if under arrest, Police will find them a local lawyer to speak to for free.
“Our service is limited and will not cater to arrests or custody matters unrelated to the hīkoi,” she said.
