Māori King calls for national hui on unity, holding Govt to account

Kiingi Tuheitia has issued a royal proclamation calling for a national hui for Māori to unite over ensuring "all voices are heard when holding the new coalition government to account".

Te Paki o Matariki, the highest form of proclamation by the king, has been issued after rangatira from around the country expressed "a very clear message" to the Kiingitanga during an event celebrating its 165th anniversary held over the weekend.

In a statement, Kiingitanga chief of staff Ngira Simmonds said during the election campaign there was a lot of "unhelpful and divisive rhetoric" felt by both Māori and non-Māori.

"There's strong opposition to the Government's statements on the Treaty of Waitangi which could undermine decades of hard-fought justice and equality for our nation.

"Now is the time for Kotahitanga and focusing on what we have in common," he said.

The call is supported by iwi leaders including Ngāti Tūwharetoa's paramount chief Sir Tumu Te Heuheu and head of Rātana Church Manuao Te Kohamutunga Tamou.

It comes a day after nationwide protests against the new government's policies on co-governance and the Treaty of Waitangi.

Simmonds said the purpose of the hui is to create a safe space for Māori to "gather in our place, with our tikanga, to koorero and waananga our future".

The event will be held at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia on January 20, whereby the "mauri of the hui" will be carried on to the annual Rātana and Waitangi Day celebrations later in the year.

Note: The use of double vowels in this article reflects what was written in a statement sent by the Kiingitanga where they use double vowels (aa, ee, ii, oo, uu) in place of macronised vowels (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū).

Glossary

Kiingi/Kīngi Tuheitia – King Tuheitia

Te Paki o Matariki – the name of a royal proclamation from the Māori king

hui – meeting

rangatira – chief, leader

Kiingitanga/Kīngitanga – name of the Māori King movement

kotahitanga – unity, solidarity, collective action

tikanga – custom(s), protocol(s)

koorero/kōrero – talk, discuss

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waananga/wānanga – meet, discuss, seminar, conference

mauri – life force, essence