Reverse Colonization?????

I am only expressing my own views.

This is still in line with all other views in previous blogs on Tino Rangatiratanga and Politics.

I guess I am more providing some clarity.

My heart still aches and weeps regularly for the murderous wars of colonization, slavery, rapes, abuses, stealing of land and the destroying of whole civilizations. This greatly angers me.

Equally, I am saddened at the ongoing modern effects of Colonization, like suicide, broken families, domestic violence, poverty of mind and circumstance, ill health, huge incarcerations and so on and so on.

I still have all of that in mind as I write this controversial post.

And yes.. It will definitely upset some exponents of Tino Rangatiratanga... and some who have certain socio-cultural and political views.
-

For me

WE CAN NOT Reverse Colonization. There is no way that we can 'Have Pakeha pack up and Leave'
'Tell the Government to Go', or to 'Send them all back to England'.

There is no way I can drain all my Pakeha blood and put it in bottles for other Pakeha to take back to Britain.

That can't happen.

There is no way that we can just 'Go back to the Pa and live like we did, before Pakeha came'.

There is no way that we can ignore what Aotearoa - New Zealand is today, and 'send the Pakeha home'.

I can not and will NEVER encourage some civil war like in Africa to 'Get the Pakehas off our land".

I'd never tell anyone to crazily burn down the Parliament or ANYTHING like that.
-

None of that can or will happen.
--

I feel the anger and frustration of Maori.

I understand the rationale of some who want to set up Sovereignty Groups, or people who protest the Government, or those who do not 'want a part of the system' any more.

I get it. I do.
-

What I offer though.. and here is the clincher... Here is the crux of this blog entry...

IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING, MAKING AN ACTUAL TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE TODAY FOR TE IWI MAORI?

We are motivated by the same anger and frustration that I write of above.... but

WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY DO??? Who does it actually help???

Are you aiding, benefiting or helping Te Ao Maori, Te Iwi Maori???

Are you lifting out of the poverty you hate?

Are you freeing families from the violence that plagues them?

Are you empowering Whanau? Are you helping people to get better?
-

Take some time to reflect.
-

We protest at Waitangi every year. We organise Hikoi.

Some make 'Sovereignty' Courts, Governments and Incorporations?
-

BUT.. What does it all ACTUALLY do for Maori on the streets and in their homes... and not just in your area but across Aotearoa - New Zealand.
-

I do not seek to condemn ANY honest effort to help our people.

But I do seek to cause reflection and retrospection. To cause us to think about how we can tangibly move our people forward.
-

I know protest. But I also know Action and work. I know how important it is to be active in the community and in my home.

I guess that is my call.

My call to all who read this blog.

We do more for Ngai Maori (and indeed all Indigenous people) when we just be good Mums, Dads and brothers... When we have kids....

When we take them to school... When we drive our grandparents around...

When we are good employees in our jobs

When we kiss our kids and hug them

When we reject that last beer or stub out that cigarette for good..

When we smile at the stranger, no matter which country they were born in

When we achieve that Certificate or that Masters 

When we open an eco-friendly business

When we sweep the whare kai, or serve kai there

When we stack or lay mattresses in the whare moe.
-

Believe me

I know how terrible Colonization is.. I truly do... I mean many of those terrible things I wrote of above... I've either witnessed or experienced.. I DO Know.

But I am equally saying, with the same power

We dismantle the effects of colonization when we do the simple things which build our homes and strengthen our whanau. 

Colonization can't be reversed... But we can dismantle it.

Nga mihi nunui.

Thank you for reading

Tangata Whenua and Democracy

This, like all my blogs, gives my OWN opinion. It's is only my opinion.

It is open to discussion, criticism, critique and debate. This is welcome!!
-
Before reading on, have a read of this entry. It gives context to my beliefs in relation to all of this.

http://teratahikairosblog.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/tino-rangatiratanga.html
-

I believe in democracy. I believe in giving all people the chance to have and be empowered, this is the centre of many strong Governments across the world.

Though, not just Governments, but many organisations have decisions taken up by voting.

To have your say and for it to be heard, is what I believe Democracy is.

We need this. And this will always shape, form and stabilise Aotearoa-New Zealand as we know it.

Pure Democracy can give expression to Tino Rangatiratanga, in the form that the above blog entry espouses.
-

For me though, I know that Democracy as it is, has NOT always been used in the best ways for MAORI.

In fact, the very essence of Democracy, means that Maori are NOT special, because all groups can have a say.

And that for me is the rub.

Democracy is not an essential part of pre-colonisation. In those times, Democracy did NOT play a huge role in the Governance of Whanau, Hapuu and Iwi.

We were "governed" by tikanga. Or in modern terms, Natural Law determined our movements and our lives.

The height of the expression thereof, fell upon our Ariki and Rangatira.

The proof thereof, is in the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This was not a document, debated over in the public arena. Referenda were not taken on this. Votes were not cast by the whole population of Aoteroa, to give credence to that document. Rangatira signed it, and thus gave it mana.
-

OF COURSE, our country, our people, indeed all of us are NOT "governed" in this way today.

Democracy reigns. Choice, voting, wide discussion etc, etc.
-

But again I say... WHAT ABOUT MAORI?????

How can we best use Democracy? What does Democracy have to offer Maori?
-

Well, I want to take an international context.

In the Pacific, there's Fiji and Tonga.

In Asia, there's China, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea.

In the America's it's Cuba.

In Africa it's Swaziland.

And of course, most of the Middle East.
-

These are countries, where DEMOCRACY does not play a prominent role.

There are also other countries were there are varying degrees of 'democracy'. Some countries have none, in the form that we in Aotearoa-New Zealand are familiar with.
-

SO WHAT ABOUT MAORI?????

Well our entrance, our part, our governance is in the implementation and expression of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

That is our modern Foundation as a people.

Our credence, our modern racial whakapapa, our modern power, our stake in the ground, our part to play.... it ALL rests on Te Tiriti.

And so, in modern times, for our governance and for OUR MANA..... For our power, our Tino Rangatiratanga.... ALL rests in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
-

Our interaction with and use of Democracy in the modern form MUST be informed by our foundation, Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our voice. And we continue to give power to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

-

In Election year... let this be our frame of mind. Te Tiriti o Waitangi must guide our thinking, as we participate in Democracy.

Maori are at the heart of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Our votes, in Election year, must always be to empower of Tiriti voice.

We are Tiriti Partners.

Let us always be SO.