A brief postscript to yesterday’s newsletter… Watching the predawn speeches just now, the reverence of those speaking and the respectful nature of those listening under umbrellas in the dark. I felt a great sadness at the words from Christopher Luxon last evening still in my head.
"But they, he and his professional speech writers, decided rather than pulling back from that message they would double down and rub people’s faces in it. Even as they met in positivity, unity, and love at the birthplace of our nation.
I have to confess that I did not get up early enough for the Dawn Service and kārakia today.I streamed Stuff's Live Stream yesterday, and yes I was startled by Luxon's description of the signing of the Treaty as being an experiment. In all of the years of rhetoric about Te Tiriti o Waitangi I have never before heard it descibed as an experiment. I reflected on what my late stepfather would have thought about that. My stepfather,an accountant by profession was a National Party supporter .But he was also Ngāpuhi, fluent in Te Reo from childhood,and very proud of that whakapapa. I doubt Luxon's disrespect would have changed his voting pattern, but he would have been very disappointed. He and my mum had a comfortable retirement life with two or three overseas trips per year.But they also on long weekends towed their little caravan from their home on the North shore to the small village on the Hokianga where he grew up. They both passed away in 2006 within three months of each other.
I have been to Waitangi once but not on Waitangi weekend. Every year I say I will go the next year for the weekend. I have not managed it as yet ,but once more am motivated for next year.
This is great Nick. Happy Birthday to your Dad, who raised a good man. I completely agree that Luxton is a Brash clone, as is Seymour, and they are both stirring up the underlying racism just as Brash did in Orewa all those years ago. However, I think Brash (and possibly Seymour) really really believes in his analysis, whereas Luxon has no analysis or position or understanding at all, and shifts with the wind and the speech notes and the auto-cues. This vapid inconsistency in the pursuit of votes shows a deep lack of integrity, which would make him a dangerous and unpredictable leader. Hopefully everyone can forget about him and enjoy the rest of the day!
"I felt my heart lighten". thank you for this wonderful and optimistic report from the moments of connection possible in dawn ceremonies. your writing had me connecting with the saying in maori - ki te whai ao, ki te ao marama. "The breath, the energy of life To the dawnlight, to the world of light The words refer to a world constantly emerging from darkness into light." hard to translate the depth of this saying without the stories of the children of Rangi and Papa and their learning of light, longing for light, and struggling over strategies to open up to the light (or not).
and thank you for acknowledging David Seymour (yes hard as it is to do). my optimism says that he is in the place and time for wairua to touch the maoritanga in his heart and awaken his curiosity about his ancestors and a wondering about belonging with his people of common ancestors. the beginning of his journey ki te whai ao, ki te ao marama perhaps. i look forward to all of your writing which i believe can guide many through the struggles towards lightening our bicultural hearts.
I have watched quite a lot the Waitangi celebrations today including interviews with a range of people,and a panel discussion between four Māori wāhine toa. They were adamant that Three Waters, and Māori having seats at the governance table should go ahead as initially planned. On the other hand Shane Jones,when interviewed said he did not support co-governance forThree Waters reforms.He said he blamed Jacinda because she should never have let Nanaia create the Three Waters structure. He claimed he,and Winston would never have "allowed" Jacinda to have gone ahead with it.
Such hubris! I really miss seeing Jacinda's smiling face !
'Little experiment' displays his ignorance. This was no little experiment for the Crown but an established practice. It seems the British Crown signed 56 land treaties between 1760 & 1923 - with indigenous peoples of Canada alone.
In the English text, Māori leaders gave the Queen 'all the rights and powers of sovereignty' over their land. In the Māori text, Māori leaders gave the Queen 'te kawanatanga katoa' or the complete government over their land. And what I find particularly interesting is that of the 500+ Maori rangatira who signed the Treaty, ALL (bar 39) SIGNED THE MAORI VERSION.
Thankyou for sharing our Waitangi Dawn so sensitively.
"But they, he and his professional speech writers, decided rather than pulling back from that message they would double down and rub people’s faces in it. Even as they met in positivity, unity, and love at the birthplace of our nation.
I felt angry." Me too.
I have to confess that I did not get up early enough for the Dawn Service and kārakia today.I streamed Stuff's Live Stream yesterday, and yes I was startled by Luxon's description of the signing of the Treaty as being an experiment. In all of the years of rhetoric about Te Tiriti o Waitangi I have never before heard it descibed as an experiment. I reflected on what my late stepfather would have thought about that. My stepfather,an accountant by profession was a National Party supporter .But he was also Ngāpuhi, fluent in Te Reo from childhood,and very proud of that whakapapa. I doubt Luxon's disrespect would have changed his voting pattern, but he would have been very disappointed. He and my mum had a comfortable retirement life with two or three overseas trips per year.But they also on long weekends towed their little caravan from their home on the North shore to the small village on the Hokianga where he grew up. They both passed away in 2006 within three months of each other.
I have been to Waitangi once but not on Waitangi weekend. Every year I say I will go the next year for the weekend. I have not managed it as yet ,but once more am motivated for next year.
Happy bday Nicks dad. Hope you are proud of the mahi your son does today and every day he posts this blog.
This is great Nick. Happy Birthday to your Dad, who raised a good man. I completely agree that Luxton is a Brash clone, as is Seymour, and they are both stirring up the underlying racism just as Brash did in Orewa all those years ago. However, I think Brash (and possibly Seymour) really really believes in his analysis, whereas Luxon has no analysis or position or understanding at all, and shifts with the wind and the speech notes and the auto-cues. This vapid inconsistency in the pursuit of votes shows a deep lack of integrity, which would make him a dangerous and unpredictable leader. Hopefully everyone can forget about him and enjoy the rest of the day!
Thank you Nick. That's beautiful writing. Tears in my eyes.
Thank you for this insightful account.
Beautiful writing, Nick. And really, Luxon wasn't there??
"I felt my heart lighten". thank you for this wonderful and optimistic report from the moments of connection possible in dawn ceremonies. your writing had me connecting with the saying in maori - ki te whai ao, ki te ao marama. "The breath, the energy of life To the dawnlight, to the world of light The words refer to a world constantly emerging from darkness into light." hard to translate the depth of this saying without the stories of the children of Rangi and Papa and their learning of light, longing for light, and struggling over strategies to open up to the light (or not).
and thank you for acknowledging David Seymour (yes hard as it is to do). my optimism says that he is in the place and time for wairua to touch the maoritanga in his heart and awaken his curiosity about his ancestors and a wondering about belonging with his people of common ancestors. the beginning of his journey ki te whai ao, ki te ao marama perhaps. i look forward to all of your writing which i believe can guide many through the struggles towards lightening our bicultural hearts.
Thank you, Nick.
We go on, together.
#FukLuxon
I have watched quite a lot the Waitangi celebrations today including interviews with a range of people,and a panel discussion between four Māori wāhine toa. They were adamant that Three Waters, and Māori having seats at the governance table should go ahead as initially planned. On the other hand Shane Jones,when interviewed said he did not support co-governance forThree Waters reforms.He said he blamed Jacinda because she should never have let Nanaia create the Three Waters structure. He claimed he,and Winston would never have "allowed" Jacinda to have gone ahead with it.
Such hubris! I really miss seeing Jacinda's smiling face !
Tumeke!
'Little experiment' displays his ignorance. This was no little experiment for the Crown but an established practice. It seems the British Crown signed 56 land treaties between 1760 & 1923 - with indigenous peoples of Canada alone.
In the English text, Māori leaders gave the Queen 'all the rights and powers of sovereignty' over their land. In the Māori text, Māori leaders gave the Queen 'te kawanatanga katoa' or the complete government over their land. And what I find particularly interesting is that of the 500+ Maori rangatira who signed the Treaty, ALL (bar 39) SIGNED THE MAORI VERSION.