Inaugural Pacific General Assembly back Māori King’s call for unity

With the place of Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi being called into question by the new coalition government, a number of Pacific leaders and activists have been calling for their communities in Aotearoa to stand in solidarity with Māori on issues affecting tangata whenua.

And in response to this call, a talanoa fono was held earlier this week at the Māngere Arts Centre in South Auckland, to discuss how Pacific peoples in Aotearoa could better understand Te Tiriti as well as how to mobilise for next year's Waitangi celebrations.

Formal whaikōrero (speeches) from Māori leaders and Pacific chiefs, ali'i, ariki ,and elders opened the first of many Talanoa Fono of the Pacific General Assembly. Photo/PMN News

The gathering was hosted by an interim Council of Chiefs, which is a group of elders representing various Pacific nations and representatives of the Kiingitanga, following the first Indigenous Wellbeing Conference where the Aupito made the statement, “an attack on Māori is an attack on Pasifika”.

Kiingitanga Chief of Staff and Private Secretary Archdeacon Ngira Simmonds also shared with the attendees that their kaupapa is stronger, when Māori and Pacific people stand together.

“While the current coalition government has been the galvanising force behind the call for Kotahitanga from the Kiingitanga, it is not the focus - we are!

“Governments come and go but our communities, our dreams, our struggles, our movements continue.”

The talanoa was facilitated and supported by the indigenous-led collective Mahi Moana Incorporated, who advocate for the rights of tagata moana creatives, supporting their needs, and facilitating progressive pathways for their development.

In attendance were community representatives from Northland, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin who expressed their views on bettering the partnership between Māori and Pacific people.

It was put to the interim Council of Chiefs to allow for youth and women’s leadership roles, as well as discussions were had on how to logistically spread their message to all Pacific communities around Aotearoa, and to consider providing Te Tiriti o Waitangi workshops in Pacific languages.

The former Pacific peoples minister was also asked if he personally will talanoa with Samoan migrant sports players and bring them up to speed with discussions around Māori and Pacific engagement, to which he responded, “yes”.

An ava ceremony followed the formalities with cups accepted by Māori and Pacific male elders. Photo/PMN News

One matter of particular note was raised by Māngere artist Michel Mulipola, who challenged the status quo terminology, namely the identifying label "Pacific", saying it derives from the word "pacify" and won’t identify himself as such.

Mulipola prefers to use "tagata moana", and he spoke to the interwoven connections within the room which eventuated in him saying the name "tagata lalaga" (Gagana Samoa for weaving).

A number of motions were also introduced by the interim Council of Chiefs and were unanimously carried.

These included:

1. The meeting supports the Kiingitanga’s Proclamation calling for Kotahitanga and Mana Motuhake.

2. The meeting endorsed an Annual Calendar of Pasifika Aotearoa engagements with Māori, including:

• Kiingitanga on 20th August 2024

• Waitangi Treaty Grounds on 5-6 February 2025

• Reconnect with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

3. The meeting endorses the establishment of the Pacific General Assembly to provide vision, aspiration, structure, and a platform for Pasifika Aotearoa’s engagement with Māori, with the following specifics:

• Establishment of a Council of Chiefs to lead day-to-day planning and preparation for key events.

• Appointment of Hon. Aupito William Sio as Chairperson of the Council of Chiefs, as moved by Keu Mataroa and unanimously approved. Members present, including Keu Mataroa, Va’atu’itu’i Apete Meredith, and representatives from Fiji and Tonga, will form the inaugural Council of Chiefs.

• The Council of Chiefs will also work to establish the Pre-eminent Leaders Group (Le Falealii Taua o Aotearoa) and the Strength and Future of Pasifika Aotearoa (Le Malosiaga o le Pasefika Aotearoa) fraternities.

• The Council of Chiefs will now begin the organising of the two significant events with the Kiingitanga on August 20th 2024, and Waitangi on 4-6 February 2025.

Further kōrero will be scheduled up to July, with details soon to be announced. At the end of July, a nationwide Zoom meeting will be held, inviting all groups and individuals interested in participating in this movement.

Wrapping up the first of many fono to come, Aupito says love is at the core of what lies ahead for all who are answering the call for solidarity.

“It is a love for our nation of Aotearoa New Zealand and wanting to ensure that both Māori and Pasifika can contribute to the dreams, aspirations and vision for a better nation for all peoples.”

He continues that it is a love for the upcoming generation and the more than 20 per cent of Pacific young people who whakapapa Māori and ensuring they stand strong and confident in their woven heritages and cultural lenses.

“And finally, this engagement is a love for Māori, their struggles and sufferings over hundreds of years under the hands of the Crown, despite having Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“Pasifika need to better understand this history, the history of Māori, and learn from it. This is critically important as we establish ourselves in Aotearoa New Zealand as our permanent home.”