Prayers for Chapel Hill

Below is a press release I did as soon as I found out. It was sent to NZ and International media and was completely ignored

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ‎

Na te Atua I homai, Na te Atua ano e tango.

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Ka tangi te ngakau mo te tokotoru I puhia, kei Amerika. No Ngai Iharaima katoa ratou.

Ka tuku aroha ki nga whanau pani, I raro I te kapua o te pouriuri, I roto I te mamae.

Ki ahau nei, kaore I kore, he ‘tukino mauahara’ tenei.

Ka tangi te ngakau mo nga hunga katoa, ki te ao whanui e mate penei ai.

Ko te mea noaiho hei whakapiki ano te hari, ko taua mohiotanga, hei te Ra Whakawa, te Ra o te Orangatonutanga, ka whiwhi taatou katou te Utu mai i te Atua Kaharawa, moo u matou mahi katoa, ki runga I te mata o te whenua.

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I express profound sadness over the 3 who were shot in America. They are Muslim.

My love goes out to the grieving families who must be overcome with sadness at this time.

To me, there is no doubt that this was a dreadful hate crime.

I mourn for all who die like this across the earth.

The only consolation is the sacred knowledge of the Day of Resurrection and Judgement, whereby all shall receive JUST Consequences for all actions on Earth, and such justice can only be administered by Almighty God.

TeRata Hikairo

Maori Muslim

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.
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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.
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None of that can or will happen.
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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.
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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?
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Take some time to reflect.
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We protest at Waitangi every year. We organise Hikoi.

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

Priez pour Paris, Pray for Paris

Je suis Maori, je suis musulman.

Je crois en l'amour, la paix et la compassion.

Je envoie mon amour pour le peuple de Paris en ce moment. Mes prières montent Allah Tout-Puissant pour eux, leurs moyens de subsistance et de leurs familles.

Amour surmonte tout.

Ce est mon message à cette époque.

I am Maori, I am Muslim.

I believe in Love, Peace and Compassion.

I send my love for the people of Paris at this time. My prayers ascend Almighty Allah for their sakes, their livelihoods and their families.

Love overcomes all.

This is my message at this time.

Ka whakapono matou o Ngai Iharaima ki nga matapono o te Aroha, te Rangimarie me te Ngakau nui.

I tenei wa Pouri, ka tukuna matou o matou aroha ki nga whanau kei Paris.

Kua taki, kua tukuna nga karakia ki a Allah mo ratou, mo a ratou oranga, mo a ratou whanau hoki.

He kaha ake te Aroha, I nga mea katoa.

Koinei ou matou karere I tenei wa.

Late afternoon at the movies, January 2015

I have never ever done a movie review before. This'll be more opinion based and a story of yesterday. I'll try not to put spoilers.
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The first movie we watched The Imitation Game was unexpectedly beautiful. I'd sat in the lobby, and watched the first seconds of the trailer and thought 'I think I'll enjoy that'.

I certainly did.

Of course the characters are well played, the costume and settings authentic and the simple cinematography was well placed.

But what I most enjoyed, were the several layers of context and meaning. There was not 1 story but 4 woven together.

Lovers of mystery, war, quirk and Britain certainly will enjoy the movie.

I must apologise to all the other movie goers last night, because I was quite loud in my exclamations of enjoyment.

And I cried with a broken heart, right at the end.

VERY VERY WELL DONE, Easy 5 Stars.
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As for the second movie I was thoroughly underwhelmed.

More to the point I was annoyed.

But that's probably because I feel they sucessfully blasphemed one of the most influential stories of the last 3500 years.

As a scripture enthusiast, I was disgusted both at the portrayal of God and his messenger Moses.

Yes the cinematography was OK, and can be somewhat commended, but if that's the only highlight of the movie, then that leaves much to be desired.

1 star out 5.

Religious Diversity

I won't reference anything here in this entry, I am just talking from a wealth of knowledge accumulated over 16 years.
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Religious Diversity is something which has fascinated me this whole time.

Ever since I was 10, I would sit in my school library and read about all the different faiths of the world.

Indeed this is something of great interest to me.

Over the period of my short lifetime, I have visited a variety of churches, mosques, pagodas and temples. I have even visited a synagogue.

I've made contact with people from many different spiritual and religious backgrounds.
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The human experience is enriched by faith. The diversity of our faiths, is one of the defining features of our humanity.
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If I just focus on my own city of Auckland, New Zealand, I know of the 2 different synagogues in the city. One synagogue is for Orthodox Jews, while the other is for Reformed Jews.

The Manukau region has a variety of Mosques. In Manurewa, for example within kilometers of each other the Ahmaddiya mosque and Masjid Ayesha, 2 mosques with different views of Islam. Different again is Masjid At-Taqwa.

The whole Auckland region is host to many mosques, for the variety, not just of Sunni but Shia Muslims too, I have visited some of these.

I know the locations of and have visited some of the Hindu and Buddhist Temples of Auckland.

And I have visited 2 of South Auckland's Sikh temples, enjoying meals there.
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One of the things that has always troubled me, even worried me, in terms of international issues, is Religious Intolerance particularly when this manifests as Religious persecution.

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the first murder in history was an act of Religious intolerance, where the murderer was envious of the piety of his victim.

That tradition again records the 'feeding' of the first Christians to lions in Roman Gladiatorial stadia.

The Crusades on the 12th century were a religious war, as was the Spanish Inquisition.

Jews have been periodically persecuted, of recent memory the Nazi Holocaust.
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Right Now, the religious persecution in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, seems to make headlines each day.

In some examples, religion can be perceived as the source of persecution and tolerance.
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In my view, no great society or organisation can evolve and develop, let alone adequately function  without diversity.

We know in our own lives what it feels like when we are not accepted for how we live, or for what we believe in.
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All the Great scriptures of the world call us to 'Love our Neighbour'.
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The Holy Quran has  great advice, which was revealed very early on. In the 109th Chapter, it says
"To you be your religion, and to me be mine"

This verse highlights that we all inevitably have differences of opinion, thought and belief.

Indeed traditional Islamic society prided itself on allowing all people of all faith to practice their beliefs.

This was also extant in Ancient Vedic societies.

The Ancient America's, and the Pacific played host to a myriad of tribes and peoples and these too were societies were differing beliefs and religions flourished and co-existed.
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In modern society, let me take an oppurtunity to call us all to emulate our Ancient ancestors in their tolerance and respect.

Indeed society will be much better off if we do.

Islam, a Unique view

These are all ONLY my own thoughts
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In other blog entries you can read of how I denounce terrorism.

On Youtube if you search Taufiq Boldy you'll find my reversion story.

You can read an article which tells you a little about me.
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There is a Te Kaea interview and a Te Karere interview.
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What I want to NOW share are some views on contemporary Islamic issues.

As you may've seen I converted in 2007. My practice in 2007 was more reflected in my dress and diet, where I visited and who I associated with.

My practice of Islam at that time was outward, and showy
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Today though, I have changed. My views are different and I feel I have matured.

Islam is more about serving God, through loving my family and helping the wider community.

My connection to God now is through serving those that God loves.
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I also have, what may be termed liberal views and liberal life choices.

That is personal, but in the wider context is still part of my Islam
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Islam is a Life lived for God alone. My life does belong only to Almighty God.

It is not a perfect life, but it is a Life I dedicate to God
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My Islam, follows the Prophet and his Holy Family (Shia)

This means that like all Muslims I await the Second coming of Jesus Christ, but I ALSO await the return of the Last Imam.
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I have Faith in the Return of Christ and the Imam.

Christ as the Religious Authority as well as the Legal and Political Authority and the Imam as a Spiritual Guide.
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I believe this must happen in the future.
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In terms of the contemporary issues, like Groups trying to re-establish Islamic rule, I DO NOT Support this.

Not just because the actions of these groups strike terror and and are abhorrent, But also because this does NOT reflect Islam at all.

Islam is a religion of Peace.
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I do believe that Divinity and Holy Law can one day be supreme on the Earth.

But I believe it is ONLY up to Jesus Christ (pbuh) and the Imam (pbuh) to usher this in.

I feel no one else can do this.

I feel that no one else can administer the Holy Shariah like a Prophet or an Imam.

I do not trust anyone else to do so.

I also don't think that God trusts anyone else to do so either.
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That's what I want to say.

Please comment below

Email teratahikairo@gmail.com to discuss further.

Maori Muslim

Manako 16/12/2014

http://secure.zeald.com/site/uma/images/podcasts/Manako_16122014_-_Pt_3_Te_Rata_Hikairo_1_Pub.mp3

Translation:

Kingi Taurua and TeRata Hikairo

K: There is certainly a lot for us to discuss tonight. So, tonight as we’ve seen on TV, hostages have been captured in Sydney, by someone believed to be a Muslim. TeRata Hikairo is our speaker tonight, TeRata is a Muslim, he has thoughts to share on what he believes. Good evening my friend, TeRata

T: My matua, my respected Ngapuhi elder Kingi, I greet you and all the listeners tonight. Firstly, to correct what you said, Islam is a religion of Peace, a religion of Love and a religion which takes care of people. Therefore these terrorist actions currently taking place in Sydney tonight, are those of 1 deranged individual. Such actions have no relation to Islam. That being said, my own family and friends say to me ‘You Muslims, you are terrorists’. My response tonight is that Terrorism has nothing to do with Muslims. We are condemning these actions.

K: It is very good that you say that. Expound more on what you say of love and care for people. Is that indeed what (Islam) is about?

T: Yes. Yes indeed. The essence of our faith, is a belief in God. The same essence that you’ll find in any Christian Church, any Synagogue and Hindu Temple. In fact all churches have Love and Peace. Islam is the same. Now, what frustrates me is that this is the 3^rd time in a 1-2 week period, that I am again on Manako to broadcast that my religion is Peaceful, mine is a religion of Love, and is a religion of caring, NOT a Terrorist organisation. I’m frustrated that I have to continually do this, WHILE still remaining grateful that I can broadcast this truth, that it may be widely known that Muslims are a peaceful people.

K: Thank very much again, and it is great to hear you speaking our language, and that you come on Maori Radio. I acknowledge the ignorance of some in the different churches (organisations). It is also great to hear you talking more about this and of the passion of many in their support of your religion.

T: Indeed. In the last 30 years, we have had a lot of Muslims immigrate to New Zealand, and our numbers are the same, we are about 30,000. About 1000 of all Muslims in New Zealand, are ethnically Maori. Those are stats from Statistics New Zealand. Many New Zealand muslims, are business people, doctors, nurses, Kohanga teachers and Kura Kaupapa Teachers. We are just normal people.

But, some still think, that when Terrorist actions take place like in Australia, people think ‘That’s scary, these people are violent’. But NO. We are just like, Hindus, Christians and Jews. We are loving and peaceful.

K: Are there many Maori who are Muslim?

T: YES. Statistics say there are about 1000, from all the different Iwi. Many are in Auckland, some in Hastings, others in Christchurch. But yes there are 1000, according to statistics.

K: Thank you, Thank you. And do you pray to God?

T: Yes, yes indeed. In fact we share beliefs with Christians; We believe in Jesus Christ, Moses and Abraham (peace be upon them), We believe in Scripture, We pray, we give Charity, and all of these sorts of things. Just today, when I went to the Mosque, I saw Children learning Scriptures. That is it really. We are scriptural, prayerful and loving.

K: Our Government seeks to send troops to fight ISIS, What do you think about that?

T: The John Key-led Government will do as they do. I believe, that we really need to examine and understand our reasoning what our course of action might possibly be. I agree with sending Humanitarian Aid if Iraqi and Syrian civilians ask the NZ Government for Humanitarian Aid, to help parents and children there. Again, in my opinion, if NZ troops need to be deployed to train (Iraqi and Syrian) Armed forces, then this is OK. But in terms of direct combat, This worries me because I don’t want Kiwi troops placed in harm’s way, and I’d rather Kiwi troops be involved in peace-keeping. That’s my personal opinion.

K: And for your Maori Culture. You grew up with your Maori culture and your Maori language. How does that all fit in with you being Muslim?

T: For the majority of the 1000 Maori Muslims, and this is my opinion, we do not see the difference (what I’m saying may surprise some) BUT, We do not see the difference of the Old cultural values and our current religious values, values like; Taking care of women and upholding her status in society which is of high regard, taking care of the elderly, being hospitable, praying to God, caring for the environment, giving to the poor and all of these kinds of things. Tribalism, Tribal relationships, inter and intra family relationships, and the most important thing Spirituality. Yes, the names are different, in Maori God is IO Matua Kore (the Parentless God). The Quran says in Arabic:

This speaks of a Parentless God.

K: Oh my Friend!! Yes.

T: This concept of a Parentless God, is exactly the same.  But, that all being said. Returning to tonight’s topic, We hope that the whole community understands that we completely condemn Terrorism, because we are peaceful.

K: Thank YOU. It has been great speaking to you, we’ll certainly speak again, Thank you.

T: Thank you.

K: Listeners, that was the Muslim, TeRata Hikairo who spoke to us tonight. Good evening.