'Put your egos away': Aupito responds to PLF comments on Council of Chiefs

Chairperson of the Council of Chiefs (COC), Aupito William Sio, called the Pacific Leadership Forum's (PLF) comments on them unhelpful.

Last week, chair of the PLF Teleai Edwin Puni spoke to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, saying he had "big concerns about the so-called Council of Chiefs".

Teleai said "chief" is a sensitive word for Pacific communities, reserved for those elected through a particular system that should not be carried outside of it.

"I can't speak on the political front but Aupito's play in the whole process - I'm not sure about it," Teleai said.

"Tonga, for example, there's nothing beyond the structure. There's the King, the nobles and then there's the matāpule.

"So when you say 'chiefs', is it chiefs of Tonga? Chiefs of Sāmoa? Or is it chiefs of Māngere Bridge? That has not been clear."

Watch the full interview with Aupito via 531pi's FB below:

Aupito said that the COC is not bound by a "small definition of chiefs", and that their diverse group hailed from various social structures hence why they avoided terms like matai, faipule, ariki or rangitira.

"I'm not sure who they were referring to when it was mentioned there was a chief of Māngere bridge," he said.

"Can't be me, sure I live there and spend a lot of time at the village cafeterias but Māngere Bridge is land under the mana of Tainui.

"We have Te Puea marae there, named after Princess Te Puea of the Kiingitanga who supported many of our leaders who were imprisoned in Mt Eden by the colonial administrators."

Watch the full interview with Teleai via 531pi's FB below:

The PLF is a group of sovereign Pacific organisations and leaders in NZ, made up of Pacific communities alongside their respective elected leaders aiming for unification to uplift Pacific peoples in Aotearoa.

Teleai said the Forum was founded 10 years ago in contrast to the COC's establishment this year through the Pacific General Assembly.

He said their leaders were chosen by their communities, and that the "self-appointed" process of the COC is concerning.

"Work has been done over 10 years in building communities and I'm not very clear of the intentions of the latter.

"The PLF has been at the forefront of many national issues to support our people.

"This is a mandated community group by their communities, I'm not sure of the [COC]."

Aupito said Teleai's comments were unhelpful while emphasising why the COC was established.

The COC is a group of elders representing various Pacific nations and representatives of the Kiingitanga.

He said their goal is to build NZ-based Pacific people's understanding of tikanga Māori, te ao Māori, and the history of Māori who continue to push for self-determination.

"So they understand why it's important we support the Kiingitanga, tangata whenua and are respectful of their tikanga so we can move in Māori spaces with confidence, dignity and giving them respect."

Aupito also said they reached out to the PLF from the beginning, inviting them to their Te Tiriti workshops, which some of the PLF's members attended, including Pakilau Manase Lua.

He said that the COC does not hold all the answers but that "everybody has a role to play", and that their role is aligned with their specific purpose.

"Other groups have their own purpose. I see PFL has followers of many of the diverse chruch communities - they've got a role to play.

"We've got a lot to learn and I just call on all the leaders of the various organisations: Put your egos away.

"Put those swords away and let's focus on supporting our people who are making Aotearoa New Zealand their home.

"To learn about the true history of this country and be respectful of other people's tikanga and stop trying to impose your own understanding of the world on others."