And that is exactly what is needed in the future if we are to really make any meaningful headway. When the talking finishes, people have a cup of tea and go home with no one really knowing whether their propositions have actually achieved anything or not. I set a challenge for us to consider actual and meaningful dialogue that results in action.
People often ask whether Te Arawa has a united forum to present views and my answer is no. Maybe in the past the Te Arawa Maori Trust Board held that mantle, but it is different now. Perhaps it is time that we develop our own parliament where we can delve into issues in a bigger way. Some suggest that Tuhourangi will talk for themselves, just as Ngati Rangiwewehi will, on issues that affect us. That is right, but there are some many more issues to be considered as an iwi, at a national level, where we must take a united stand lest we get left out of the discussion altogether.
I for one am ready to begin the conversation.
I welcome your feedback. Email, mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz or phone (07) 350 3261.
- Te Ururoa Flavell is the Waiariki MP and the co-leader of the Maori Party.
Maori translation
Kei nga pumanawa o te ao Maori tena ano tatou.
Kua timata tuturu nei aku mahi. I nga wiki kua hipa, i hangai tonu taku korero ki te marae me te ahuatanga o tenei kaupapa ara o te tiaki i te manuhiri.
I kitea tera ahuatanga i te Poukai i tu ki Kokohinau marae, Te Teko inatatanei i te taenga atu o Te Kingi Maori me tana hikuroa. He aha te Poukai? Koia nei tetahi kaupapa i whakatinanahia e Te Puea i te wa i a ia, i te wa i rongo nei a Tainui i te ngau o te poharatanga, o te rawakore. Ko te Poukai he kaupapa e hangai tonu ana ki te pani, te rawakore me te pouaru. He powhiri te mahi, he karakia te mahi, he korero te mahi, he kai te mahi, he wananga te mahi. Ko "whanau ora"tera i tona hohonutanga.
E kiia ana, "ko te kai o te rangatira he korero". Koia te ahuatanga i Ratana Pa. I reira ko te Hahi Ratana, ko te Hahi Ringatu, ko te Kingi Maori ano hoki tae atu ki nga kaikorero o etahi iwi. Ko ta ratou ko te whakatakoto i nga take e ai ki ta ratou (a iwi, a hahi nei) i rongo, i whakaaro. He rawe tera, koia te ataahua o te marae.
Heoi ano, ko te mate ke, ko tenei. Ka whakatakoto nga kaikorero i te taha o nga iwi i o ratou whakaaro, katahi ka tu nga mema torangapu ki te korero. Ko etahi i whakautu i nga take, ko etahi i rere ki wahi ke, a, kaore nga taha e rua i tino noho ki te wetewete i nga take korero. Ina ke nga painga mena ka pera.
Ka mutu ana te korero, he kapu tii te mahi, ka hoki ki te kainga, a, kaore te nuinga i te mohio mena i whai hua aua aki, kaore ranei.
Ko etahi kua patai i te patai mena kei a Te Arawa tetahi momo ropu kotahi nei e noho ana hei reo mo Te Arawa, a ko taku ko te kii ake, "kao, karekau".
I nga ra o mua pea, ko te Poari Maori o Te Arawa i noho hei mana mo te waka engari kua rereke noa atu te ahuatanga inaianei. Tera pea kua eke ki te wa, ki te whakatu i tetahi momo Paremata kia taea ai e tatou te ruku hohonu nei ki nga take. E ai ki ta etahi, ko nga take o Tuhourangi, ma Tuhourangi era e korero, ko nga take o Ngati Rangiwewehi, mana ano e korero. He pai tonu tera engari e hia ke nei nga take nui e noho nei hei take korero mo te motu engari kua noho kore mohio nei tatou na te kore noho tahi.
Heoi ano mena he korero au mo tenei take, tukua mai.