As we move closer to a Treaty Settlement, I’m reminded of this joke I once heard:
Two Natis, Hemi and Kara, go on a camping trip up the Kopuapounamu Valley. After a big kai, they retire for the night, and go to sleep. Some hours later, Hemi wakes up and nudges his whanaunga.
‘Hey Kara, wake up and tell me what you see.”
Kara opens his eyes, looks to the sky, “I see millions and millions of stars, Hemi.”
“And what do you deduce from that?” says Hemi.
Kara ponders for a minute.
“Well, astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three in the morning.
“Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful and that we are but a small and insignificant part of the universe. What does it tell you, Hemi?”
Hemi is silent for a moment and shakes his head. ‘Kara, you egg! Someone’s pinched our tent!”
Now, I’m frequently guilty of being a bit of a “Kara” and looking too deeply for the answers, not realising that the solution is often blatantly obvious.
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about Ngati Porou once we have achieved our settlement; how affective our new governance structure will be; how our cultural, environmental and economic landscape will change; and most importantly how our collective aspirations will be realised. The more I think about it, the more I am coming to realise that we actually already have the solutions for all of the above, outside of any potential settlement.
Sir A.T Ngata was resolute that our collective strength could overcome adversity. And there is no doubt that whakapapa and whanaungatanga are perfect vehicles for fostering this premise.
I would say that there are four major issues concerning us at present (there are many, many more, but I see these as being four that really stand-out), and that is Ngati Porou:
1. Culturally (including te reo me nga tikanga ake o tena whanau, o tena hapu o Ngati Porou – particularly nga paepae, me nga tangata hei takatu te marae);
2. Socially (including educational opportunities, health, housing etc);
3. Environmentally (our land, water, air etc); and
4. Economically (employment, sustainable development, infrastructure etc).
We have for far too long had our share of hard-times. And while the Treaty Settlement will address these hardships and will provide some redress in relation to the above, what’s more important to me is how we address and redress these issues ourselves collectively. We are fortunate enough to have extremely unique and talented DNA. We have inherited enormous skills, creativity and ingenuity from our tipuna. What’s needed now is for us all to harness our collective strengths to overcome these obstacles together.
I have vivid memories of the awesomeness of Ngati Porou East Coast rugby from 1998 to 2002. While we all revelled in the success of our tribal team, what I found just as exciting, was how well we supported our side. We were synchronised in our barracking; harmonised in our singing; coordinated in our haka; and orchestrated in our applause. And this was without any practice. No matter where the boys played, it felt like a home game for them. We would often hear the sports commentators say, if only the rest of NZ could support the All Blacks the way NPEC were supported. I remember one of our slogans at the games read – “The Name of the Game is in the Fame of the Name.” Never a truer word was uttered.
If there was one thing that Sir A.T taught us it was to be proud of who we are, and to harness our collective strength for the betterment of Ngati Porou present and future.
Everyone of us, whether we are living back at home or in Scandinavia, has a role to play in the development and future of Ngati Porou whanau and Iwi. The key is to get involved.
Te Haeata has helped us to articulate what our aspirations for our whanau and Iwi are. These were recorded from the last round of wananga that Te Haeata held. For those of us wanting to get involved, and to make a difference, I urge you to come to the next lot of wananga Te Haeata will be holding; or to the marae/hapu cluster hui that are regularly held back at home; or provide feedback on the Te Haeata website. Again, participation is the key!
Finally, I look forward to our settlement, not because I think it holds the solutions to our problems, but because I think it will provide a positive catalyst to allow us all to get involved in shaping a new present, and positive future for Ngati Porou. I look forward to us once again advancing in unison. I look forward to our rugby team being so good that it will represent the Ngati Porou East Coast Nation to take on other nations of the world.
But most of all, I look forward to the day when both Hemi and Kara open their eyes and see Ngati Porou as it is meant to be…A Nati Paradise in every sense of the word!
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