English Translation of Interview
Pier: Greetings everybody. It’s
likely you’ve all heard of the war overseas in Syria, in the surrounding
regions which involves ISIS. Joining me now is, one of us, his name is TeRata
Hikairo and he has some thoughts about a certain Maori person who has been
following and (reportedly) supports the fight of ISIS overseas. TeRata is on
the phone now, Greetings TeRata.
TeRata: Greetings. Greeting Pier,
Greetings to everyone listening across the nation. Tonight I greet you all with
the warm and peaceful greetings of Islaam.
Pier: TeRata, for a long time we
have observed one of ours from Ngati Kahungunu, one who has changed his name,
one who now wears foreign clothes, and now he is being watched by the
Government. His name is Te Amorangi Kireka-Whaanga, his new name is Izhaq
Kireka-Whaanga, what do you have to say about Izhaq’s outbursts.
TeRata: First of all, I have met
this man Sheikh Izhaq, who is a well-known New Zealander, despite his bad
opinions, he is a well known person. BUT, in terms of what he says in support
of Terrorists and the war of ISIS, the vast majority of and there are 1000 of
us, and we are part of the wider Muslim Community of some 30-40000 in New
Zealand, We are a Peaceful People, We
are a prayerful people, We are a loving people, We are compassionate people, We
take care of the elderly, of women and children. And therefore when
someone comes out and says that they support Terrorism and the war of ISIS of
Iraq and Syria, The vast majority of
us DO NOT SUPPORT (that War or Terrorism). So yes, what Izhaq is saying
is just outbursts, big silly outbursts, and these are Bad things to say.
Insomuch as the vast majority of us
are Peaceful.
Pier: TeRata, are you saying to
that you are with Muslims, that you are a Muslim.
TeRata: It is known widely through
Youtube, The Government, and through TV Media, it is known that I am Muslim. My
Islam is demonstrated through my community and school work, and thus I am
different to some Muslims. Insomuch as my Islam is of my heart, not by my
clothes or my diet, or like what Izhaq does. But indeed by my community work,
that shows my faith. My faith in who, in God. That is what we Muslims believe,
what we all believe. In Maori God is known as Io Matua Kore, In Hebrew God is
Elohim, in Arabic he is Allah, but God is One. And so, again to Emphasize, if one comes out saying that they
support Terrorism, We as Muslims DO NOT ACTUALLY SUPPORT THIS, Because we are
Peaceful.
Pier: We can see that there are
indeed many Maori that have become Muslim, is this so?
TeRata: Yes yes. Statistics New
Zealand, say that there are approx.. 1000. In these last 20-30 years the
numbers continue to increase. It is known the world over that Islam is an
expanding religion. It can be seen that many people, Pakeha, Maori, Samoan etc,
Many are entering this Peaceful Religion.
Pier: What do you think is the
problem with these Maori, Are they lonely? What makes them enter these new foreign
religions?
TeRata: I have shared my opinion is
past years. I have met elderly and people who are Izhaq’s age, and I believe
that we are all Maori, but our opinions are not homogenous. Our blood and our genealogy
is the same, but our thoughts can be different. But it does not matter who the
Maori is, whether Kahungunu, Ngapuhi, Ngai Tai or Ngati Whatua, we as Maori
believe in the same God. I have met many Maori of many different faiths and
churches, and I have also met Maori who still pray and have the religion of our
ancestors. Indeed, for the majority of Maori Muslims, we don’t see the
difference between our old ways and the ways given us by God, in Islam. But
obviously, everyone has a different view.
Pier: TeRata, in the old days,
Maori were Anglican. Catholic or Mormon. What is wrong with these churches?
TeRata: There is absolutely nothing
wrong with them. I take my answer from the Scriptures, like the Bible and the
Quran and Book of Mormon which all empower the right of the person to choose
their own path to God. Indeed, it has once been said; God is like the top of a
Mountain. But there are many paths to get to the top of the Mountain. Much like
we Muslims, who’ve chosen a particular path. But we are just like all our
Maori. We still go to our Marae, just like any of our Christian or Jewish
whanau. Though we have chosen a path, a different path, but a path nonetheless
that gets to God.
Pier: TeRata the thing that
worries your people about you, is that we see Muslims, who chop their enemy’s heads
off and who hurt Pakeha and who hate Americans. This is a murderous religion. What
do you have to say to that?
TeRata: Indeed. It is true that the TV media has portrayed this. I won’t
refute that those images are broadcast. Because such things do exist.
But I for my part, read the Holy Quran, I have met people
face to face. I have gone to mosques throughout NZ and overseas. The only
people I have met there are Peaceful people.
So indeed there is a huge disconnect between what the TV
Media portrays, and what my own eyes and ears have seen in Mosques and the
homes of Muslims. What the TV Media portrays and what my eyes have seen in
Mosques is completely different.
Therefore I see and I know, Much
like tonight, where many people have seen and heard Sheikh Izhaq and believe he
is a great Muslim, and that what he has to say is representative of all
Muslims.
But when I see what he has said, I
say, those are only his particular thoughts. Those are only his thoughts. Indeed the infinitesimally small band,
much like ALL Groups and Churches, that think like Izhaq, is indeed very very
small.
The vast majority of us 99% or even more, 99.99% do not
believe in Terrorism, neither do we support Wars or Extremism. In fact we
believe in the Peace and Love of God
Pier: TeRata, we have run out of
time. But I really acknowledge the explanations that you have given and the
great things that you have said, at another time we can talk more.
TeRata: Thank you Pier. Salaam
aleykum.
Pier: That was TeRata Hikairo
talking about Islam, which has been in all the nation’s newspapers. We continue
to acknowledge him. This is all on Manako.
