Ngāti Kahungunu to carry Te Tiriti petition to Parliament on horseback

Ngāti Kahungunu riders will travel from Waimārama on horseback to deliver a petition to Parliament calling for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and references to remain in legislation.

The trek will leave Waimārama Marae on Friday, and travel through Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa before reaching Parliament on Tuesday, September 15.

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chair Bayden Barber says the choice of transport is deliberate.

“When farmers are unhappy with governments, they protest with their tractors. We, as tangata whenua—the people of the land—will take our horses to the steps of Parliament so that our message is crystal clear: protect Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

The petition, “Do not remove or amend Te Tiriti Principles or references in legislation”, is due to be handed to Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel on Parliament’s steps at noon. Organisers intend for her to present it to the House later that afternoon.

The departure from Waimārama connects the journey to Barber’s whakapapa. The iwi says Waimārama was home to his ancestor Harawira Mahikai Te Tātere, a Ngāti Kurukuru chief who signed Te Tiriti at Waipūreku in 1840.

Barber says the trek responds to changes under the coalition Government that he believes are “stripping away the rights of Iwi Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi”.

“We want to send a message to this Government that we are serious about protecting Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding agreement of this country. Not only to this Government, but whoever is there come November 7.”

Responding to Hawke’s Bay News, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith rejected the suggestion that the Government’s proposed changes to Treaty references would weaken its obligations.

“We do not agree or accept that this legislation weakens treaty obligations.”

The Government announced in May that it had agreed to amend 19 pieces of legislation following a review of Treaty principles references. Goldsmith’s announcement said 28 Acts were originally within the review’s scope, before that number was reduced to 19.

The decisions include making two references more specific, repealing seven references and specifying that Treaty provisions across 10 Acts should use no higher standard than “take into account”.

Goldsmith says the changes are intended to provide consistency and certainty.

“Over the last 30 or 40 years, Parliament has made all sorts of references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Sometimes it’s ‘honour’, or ‘have regard to’, or ‘give effect to’, or ‘take into account’. We need to create some consistency here, in the interests of increasing certainty and supporting compliance. A core foundation of our success as a nation is predictability in the law.”

Tangaere-Manuel confirmed she would receive the petition and said Labour had committed to reinstating Treaty clauses that had been removed.

She viewed the trek as Kahungunu reminding whānau of what was at stake in the election.

“People across not just iwi and Māori but Aotearoa have felt that the treaty has just been targeted,” she said.

Barber also criticised organisations he says support policies undermining Te Tiriti.

“We also want to send a message to lobby groups such as Hobson’s Pledge, Federated Farmers and others that supporting actions and policies that undermine the sanctity of Te Tiriti o Waitangi will not be tolerated.”

Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay president Anthea Yule welcomed the planned trek but rejected Barber’s characterisation of her organisation.

“They’re entitled to advocate for what they believe in – just like Federated Farmers advocate for what we believe in. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That’s democracy in action. It should be encouraged.”

“I strongly disagree with any claims that Federated Farmers support actions and policies that undermine the sanctity of The Treaty of Waitangi.”

Yule said disagreements with iwi during resource management reform had largely concerned iwi involvement in resource consenting and Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements.

Federated Farmers wanted certainty and clarity about what those agreements meant for people living and working in the regions, she said.

She supported councils and iwi working together, but said decisions affecting property rights and resource consents should ultimately rest with people the public could vote in or out.

“Iwi should absolutely be involved in resource management processes, but it should be at the early plan setting stages, and never at the individual consenting level.”

Riders from Heretaunga, Ahuriri and Wairoa are expected to join the trek at the Tukituki River before the group travels through Havelock North to the Hastings Civic Centre.

Kōrero, waiata and karakia will mark the stop at Ngā Pou o Heretaunga before riders head south through Pakipaki to Kahurānaki Marae at Te Hauke.

The journey will continue through Central Hawke’s Bay, Dannevirke and Masterton. Organisers say riders will cross the Remutaka and reach the Hutt Valley and Waiwhetū on Tuesday morning before continuing to Parliament.

The arrival is timed to coincide with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, drawing a connection with the Māori language petition delivered to Parliament in 1972.

Barber is inviting riders from other iwi to join, particularly for the final stretch from Petone to Parliament. He hopes the journey will also encourage whānau to vote.

“If our young people can ride their horses from Waimārama to Pōneke, then surely our whānau can get along to the polling booth and vote.”

Hawke’s Bay News contacted Hobson’s Pledge for comment but had not received a response by publication.