It's about our future
By Michelle Cooke Published by East And Bays Courier 27 May 2009
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Bernadette Papa, from Ngati Whatua o Orakei, prepares to leave Orakei Marae.
When democracy is under attack, stand up, fight back.
Those words were chanted by the hundreds of people who marched from Bastion Pt to the central city on Monday to protest the government’s Auckland supercity plan.
Protesters congregated from the north, west, south and east to march up Queen St in a fight against the loss of democratic rights and the government’s rejection of the Royal Commission’s recommendations for three designated Maori seats.
"Let us be admitted to your council. It’s evil we have separate councils," is what Ngati Whatua chief Paora Tuhaere said on the shores of Mission Bay in the 1860s.
"We’re not saying anything different," says hikoi organiser Ngarimu Blair, who is on the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Trust Board.
"We have to stand up for our rights. It’s not just about Maori and Ngati Whatua – we have a duty inherent in these rights to help all Aucklanders," he says.
On the 31st anniversary of the Bastion Pt protest, the crowd, mostly Maori, gathered at Orakei Marae, united again, to make their voices heard.
Dressed in a colourful mass of scarfs, coats, beanies and raincoats, many walked silently. The signs they carried which read "Mutual respect equals shared governance", "Honour our city", "Say no to no say" – said it all.
Others sang and chanted as they walked.
The supercity plan proposes one council with one mayor to govern Auckland from October 31 next year.
Twenty councillors will be elected and 20 to 30 local community boards established under the supercity umbrella.
An agency has been established to monitor the transition period.
Mr Blair says fewer than 5 percent of councillors in New Zealand are Maori. The figures are worse for Auckland.
"We need guaranteed seats because we won’t get voted on by the majority."
Mr Blair was pleased to see many children out despite the wet whether.
"We’re teaching them just as our parents taught us to make our voices heard. Peacefully, proudly, and with dignity," he says.
Orakei sisters-in-law Vicki Morehu and Anahera Morehu were with their children on the day.
"It’s about our future, and for these young ones," Vicki says.
"We pave the way for them."
Anahera says it is not only about the protest, but "whanaungatanga", the glue that holds us together.
Mato Pouesi grew up in Orakei, but now lives in Otara.
"It’s great to see everybody doing their bit not only for Maori people, but for all," he says.
Mr Pouesi will keep on protesting against the government’s decision but thinks he won’t need to.
"I think they’re going to Hide away soon," he says.
Published by East And Bays Courier 27 May 2009 Used with Permission