Marae that hosted Whina Cooper land march prepare for hīkoi as history repeats
Saturday, 9 November 2024
Marae across the country are preparing to host Hīkoi mō te Tiriti supporters as the hīkoi makes its way to Wellington.
Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti is a series of convoys, marches and protests, kicking off from Cape Reinga on Monday, November 11, after meeting at Pōtahi Marae in Te Kao on Sunday.
Organisers anticipate thousands of people would take part over the nine-day hīkoi, with activations planned all over the country.
Almost 50 years ago, Auckland’s Te Kāmaka Marae served as a pivotal resting place for Dame Whina Cooper as she led protesters on a 1000km march from the Far North to Wellington, fighting for Māori land rights.
Now the marae is preparing to host tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti, as the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti (March for the Treaty of Waitangi) protest follows a similar path to the steps of Parliament on November 19, in opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill.
Mereana Hona, Te Kamaka Marae secretary and hīkoi project lead, said the marae is preparing to accommodate and cater for about 350 people overnight on November 12 - even using the gym at Hāto Petera if needed.
She said preparing for the event has been “hectic” but they’ve managed, with good support from the community.
Read this story in te reo Māori and English here. / Pānuitia tēnei i te reo Māori me te reo Pākehā ki konei.
“It's been a big learning curve but it’s awesome … It’s not new to us. We've done this quite a few times, especially in 1975 when Dame Whina Cooper did the march over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
“It was Te Kāmaka Marae where she brought her people and they slept the night before embarking over the bridge, so we’re really excited about [the hīkoi] coming to Te Kamaka. It’s sort of history repeating itself.”
Te Kāmaka Marae chairperson Dr Pouroto Ngaropo said it was a privilege to host members of the hīkoi, considering the legacy of the marae in supporting the kaupapa.
“It's all about the unity of our nation and our people coming together in the common belief that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is an important foundation,” Ngaropo said.
“A lot of New Zealanders are concerned about the proposed bill that will be introduced in parliament, and there's a lot of work to do in terms of trying to build those bridges of understanding.”
In an effort to mend those bridges, Ngaropo said the marae had been running “decolonisation workshops”, educating Māori and non-Māori about Te Tiriti and the history of Aotearoa.
“So we definitely support the hīkoi and we're there to provide the place for people to rest, have nourishment, shower, meet, engage and build relationships with new people.”
He said, over the past few weeks, volunteers at Te Kāmaka had been busy making sure they had enough food, mattresses and pillows to make everyone “feel at home and comfortable”.
“We've had to get a lot of support, firstly from internally within the organisation and then funding from the Hāto Petera company which looks after the land and assets,” Ngaropo said.
“Some of our volunteers are doing the hāngī, some are baking cakes and doughnuts. We’ve also got sausage sizzles and about five vendors coming. Those food stalls will be offering different food opportunities right up until breakfast time.”
He said the hīkoi is an opportunity to “create unity, love support and kindness”.
“[And] our job is to make sure people are looked after and safe so they can journey on to the other parts of New Zealand and eventually down to Wellington.”
In Gisborne, Te Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae chairperson Charlotte Gibson said she didn’t know how many manuhiri to expect when the hīkoi arrives on Thursday, November 14, but they were available for anyone who needed manaaki.
Two hīkoi groups will converge in Gisborne, one via SH2 from Matawai, the other travelling SH35 from Hicks Bay - both expected to gather strength and numbers on the way.
Gibson said providing manaaki for the travellers will be “no big deal”, the marae will provide a place for whānau and manuhiri to catch up, and crash for the night, before the hīkoi leaves for Heretaunga/Hastings.
“The important thing is, we’re here for those who don’t have a plan” she said.
The marae will provide provisions, such as food, to anyone who needs it, and that was being prepared by volunteers from the hapū, Ngāti Oneone.
Gibson said Te Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae had a legacy of manaakitanga. It was there that the Māori Battalion C Company gathered during the Second World War before heading to North Africa.
Not only would this be an opportunity to support the kaupapa, but also uphold that legacy, Gibson said.
In Palmerston North on November 16, t Te Hotu Manawa O Rangitāne O Manawatū Marae is expecting to host at least 100 people overnight.
Danielle Harris, chief executive of the marae, said preparations have been under way for a couple of weeks with the bulk of the work done by a group of 50-100 volunteers.
“We’re all very positive and just trying to ensure the safety and well-being of people while they're in Palmerston North,” Harris said.
“Our message is that it's really all a peaceful protest about seeking justice and the honouring of the Treaty.”
She said the city was prepared to host thousands and, while most people had organised their own accommodation, arrangements were being made for people to stay overnight in the city including at other marae.
“It's about just offering manaakitanga, which is something Māori do anyway if we have a big event. The food is being prepared by us so we obviously purchase it and prepare it but a lot of people are putting their hands up to offer to help with that,” Harris said.
“It's a great example of the community working together to support a kaupapa. We've got a group of volunteers, not just from Rangitāne but the community in general, doing different tasks.
“There'll be some involved in traffic management, preparation of kai, and others looking after the kaumātua and supporting the Māori wardens who have a big role in terms of traffic management.”
Harris said there was a lot of hands involved in anticipation of the hīkoi but it was all done to support Te Tiriti and to protest the Treaty Principles Bill.
“It's just another example of iwi-dom and tangata Tiriti coming together to call out a lot of actions of the government.”
In another history repeats moment, Takapūwāhia Marae in Porirua will host the Hīkoi for mō te Tiriti movement for two nights, ahead of the final push to Parliament Grounds on Tuesday, November 19.
The 1975 Land March also stopped at Takapūwāhia Marae, where Dame Whina encouraged Māori to keep fighting for the retention of their land, something she did at every marae they stopped at.
Fifty marchers left Te Hāpua in the Far North on September 14, 1975, for the 1000km walk to Wellington - 5000 marchers arrived at Parliament to present a petition signed by 60,000 people to Prime Minister Bill Rowling.