Teanau's call to action: 'Let’s organise, indigenise and decarbonise'

This column is the second in a series we will be running from leading Pacific politicians as well as the Minister For Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti over the coming weeks.

My political year began at Turangawaewae under the hot Ngaruawahia sun, so hot it reminded me of the islands.

There wasn't a lagoon or coconut tree in sight but people were cooling off in the Waikato river. People arrived by car, bus and yes even by horse.

I wanted to be there because I knew it was going to be historic, and it did not disappoint.

The national hui at Tūrangawaewae Marae - called by the Māori king, Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII - saw over 10,000 people united in the face of actions by the coalition government, including its proposed Treaty Principles Bill and it was wonderful to see our Pasifika peoples sprinkled amongst the crowd.

Why should Pasifika peoples be concerned about the attacks on Māori? Well, an attack on Māori is an attack on all of us. In between jokes around bombing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples, dismantling smoke free legislation and trampling on the Treaty of Waitangi there is a lot to be concerned about with the direction of this Govt.

Green Party MPs were among the thousands who attended the hui aa motu at Tuurangawaewae Marae. Photo/ Green Party

I am mindful of the whakapapa connections that tangata whenua have with tangata moana. It is these connections which inform my own personal politics and I am mindful that many of our Pasifika children are Māori too. Aotearoa itself is an integral thread in the rich tapestry of Pacific history that has been meticulously woven over centuries of cultural interactions

The incoming government's 100 day plan is a legislative assault which seeks to undo decades of progress for te reo Māori, Māori and Pacific health and to undermine our nation's foundational document, Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Youth, te reo Maori , Te Tiriti, identity and environment were some of the key topics of discussion in the breakout workshops.

In a crowd of 10,000 I couldn't go a few steps without catching up with people I hadn't seen in awhile and in some cases, decades. It is in these spaces where important connections are made to check in and listen to the people on the ground.

It is empowering to witness such a crowd of tangata whenua, tagata moana and tangata tiriti come together with merely a few weeks' notice. I was particularly impressed to see so many rangatahi (young people) getting involved in the kaupapa, whether it be swimming in the Waikato river, handing out the food packs or singing along to the waiata. They were amongst it. Judging by the number and calibre of rangatahi at the event, the future is bright. As highlighted in the rangatahi breakout session, “A rangatira (leader) was once a rangatahi (young person).”

Aotearoa can be a place where te reo Māori is celebrated, tangata whenua and tagata moana are supported to live long, happy lives and Te Tiriti o Waitangi is affirmed. Let’s organise, indigenise and decarbonise.