Mani Dunlop
Maori News Director, RNZ
Wellington, February 2, 2021
Labour MPs have gone onto the Te Tii Marae in Waitangi today. (RNZ Photo by Mani Dunlop)
Politicians have made their way onto Te Tii Marae in Waitangi – the first time in four years – in a bid to rebuild a fractured relationship between politics and the marae over years.
Events have started in Waitangi as part of the week’s commemorations.
In 2018, the Pohiri was moved from Te Tii Marae to the upper grounds as supported by leaders in the North, but the question always remained as to whether the formalities would return to what is known as the Lower Marae.
Labour MPs arrive
Labour MPs and the whanau of Rudy Taylor, holding a picture of the staunch supporter and life member of Labour and Ngapuhi leader, who died late last year, were welcomed onto the Lower Marae today.
Taylor was an advocate to return to the Lower Marae and Minister for Maori Development Willie Jackson said that he was a driver for them coming back to Te Tii this year.
Jackson said that it was where the “real people” came, while also saying that he supported the formalities moving to the upper Treaty Grounds at Te Whare Runanga.
Minster expects challenges
Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis said that he expected to be challenged on the Paepae around questions of whether the Prime Minister should be in attendance, and the progression of the Ngapuhi Treaty Settlement.
Some members of the Marae believed that she should be there.
Renowned Ngapuhi Kuia Titewhai Harawira was at the front of the ope and said that there was more discussion needed as to whether formalities for political parties and their leaders should return to Te Tii Marae.
Politicians were met by a small group of protesters who are currently occupying private land at Opua – known as Puketiti – to stop a housing development. They stood to the left of the Marae entrance standing with placards and flags as they made their way onto the marae.
Mani Dunlop is Maori News Director at Radio New Zealand. The above story has been published under a special arrangement with www.rnz.co.nz
