February 29th, 2024
Our Waitangi experiences
Around February 6th, Waitangi Day, eight of our Leadership Lab team members shared a few incredibly meaningful days at Waitangi – Danette Abraham-Tiatia, Manz Smith, Shiloh Sutherland, Kimi Rogers, Joby Hopa, Jono Campbell, Gwyn John and Chris Jansen. In sharing their reflections on Waitangi day 2024, it is very clear that the experience of being there was very different than what was portrayed by the media which focused on the small pockets of tension. Read and listen to their reflections below:
“It was a powerful experience being at Waitangi this year standing on my tūrangawaewae. I definitely felt the strength of my Tipuna and I was reminded of a whakatauki;
Pataihia nga poupou o tōku whare
If we are searching for truth, it doesn’t sit outside ourselves but within.
Waitangi Day is a day of reflection, a day to honor the intentions of our tipuna, a day to stand in the light and love they left behind for us. A light and love that we are called to grow for our mokopuna to stand in. And just like Hinenuitepo we too are meant to be transformed by our pain. I left feeling empowered by love”.
Manz Smith (Ngā Puhi, Consultant)
“From the cool darkness of the pre-dawn service followed by the glorious sunrise and on into the baking afternoon, I saw many thousands of people showing 100% pride in our collective identity as Tangata whenua and Tangata Tiriti… celebrating with waiata, karakia, kapa haka, waka, kōrero, laughter, passion… and good coffee and all sorts of kai (mussel patties were the winner for me). It was so peaceful and inclusive and a real celebration of Aotearoa. Made me reflect that 1840 might have felt just like that as well. I felt deeply peaceful and proud all day… and determined to Toitū te Tiriti – uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi”
Chris Jansen (Tangata Tiriti, Director)
“Waitangi is many things, invariably it is not what is shared on the 6pm news. The experience of attending Waitangi, allows those of us who travel to be there to gain a deeper insight into not just the role of the Te Tiriti in Aotearoa but the unique perspective and relationship Nga Puhi have with Waitangi, Te Tiriti and the many movements that have originated in the far north. As you journey around the beautiful treaty grounds, it is astounding and concerning that just across the bay from the very place in 1840, Te Tiriti was signed and celebrated in good faith, only 5 years later the northern wars began, culminating in the shelling of Ruapekapeka 40km down the road, near Hikurangi in 1846. A stark and powerful reminder how quickly things can change. One of the absolute highlights of Waitangi was spending time with my daughter (who has whakapapa to Matawaia, Ngati Hine on her mum’s side) in the Wai-262 tent, hearing the amazing story of the Wai 262 claim. How can you not admire the foresight and courage of the original 6 claimants who had the vision and courage to use the systems afforded to them (that had previously been used to take and commercialise land and knowledge) to seek to preserve indigenous knowledge and wisdom. Wai 262 personally reminded me of all that is good at Waitangi, the desire of ordinary people with extra ordinary aspirations and vision who are willing to collectivise to seek to ensure that taonga are preserved and kept for future generations.”
Jono Campbell (Ngāti Porou, Kāti Māmoe, Consultant)
“I loved the vibe of everyone, no one was in a hurry, people were kind and patient despite the numbers and I loved seeing so many proud Maori.”
Kimi Rogers (Ngā Puhi, Consultant)
“I could comment about the awesome vibe, the amazing powhiri, haka, kōrero and display of mana motuhake. The vibrance of the performances and the beauty of being in a Māori space. But actually for me there was a deeper calling, a deeper pull in my heart for justice, for honour and to step up. One of our elders in the Pākehā/Tauiwi/tangata Tiriti space, Mitzi Nairn, who we sadly farewelled at the end of last year used to say that she wanted to be the sort of Pākehā that the Rangatira in 1840 thought they were entering into a relationship with. The sort of Pākehā that respected the authority and mana of the Rangatira (leaders) of this land. As the late great Moana Jackson would say the mana that “was gifted by tipuna (ancestors) to be exercised by the living on behalf of the mokopuna (future generations)”. I was struck by the fact that for 184 years, the voice of tangata whenua has been largely silenced and ignored and yet I saw hundreds, thousands of tangata whenua once again speaking up for justice, for the honouring of that agreement that was made in 1840. I was reminded that there have been Tangata Tiriti voices also calling for justice and honour, but we haven’t been strong enough and loud enough, I guess that’s because we have the luxury and the privilege of being able to opt out when it gets hard…which it does, but we need to do better. Being at Waitangi this year for me was a reminder of how important it is for us as Tangata Tiriti to step up and step in to the conversation, to take every opportunity to honour the sacred invitation we have to be here. And again I heard the call to us as Tangata Tiriti to stand up and be counted at a time when Māori voices are being silenced, to be the sort of people that our ancestors will be proud of. Toitū te Tiriti!”
Gwyn John (Tangata Tiriti, Consultant)
“The word Waitangi evokes a myriad of reactions from different people. For me it holds the potential from a point in time of our history and beyond. It also carries historical pain, struggle, strength and hope. Pain from unrealised promises, struggle as a result, strength because for 184 years iwi Māori are still turning up for the conversation and finally hope because there is more to come. To travel to Waitangi on that day that marks its signing is something I recommend every person in Aotearoa does. From the pōwhiri that ushered the present government onto the upper Waitangi grounds where warriors both male and female awaited the manuhiri with a wero (challenge). Not surprisingly a different kind of wero surrounded the grounds with signs in the way of silent protest and later in the moments of drama in the pōwhiri. To driving at 3.30am and seeing the glow of the red lights of cars as far as the eye could see in order to attend the dawn ceremony People from all walks of life, Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Tangata Moana and many more were there to be a part of the vibe that is Waitangi. The heat, the mussel fritters (you gotta get in quick), the standing in line for an hour to get coffee only to order and their power goes out, the stalls, the forum tent listening to many different speakers, music, kapa haka, the stalls, clothes, potae (hats), kai, mirimiri to release your tinana and your wairua, the friends you haven’t seen in years and the walking – have your steps counter running! Two moments for me were, as the sun came up it illuminated the spectacular surroundings along with the hundreds of people gathered on the Tiriti grounds and another was as I stood in the middle of the road having joined the hikoi that has come from the far north listening to the heart cry of our iwi and Tangata Tiriti in unison in the sea of He Whakaputanga and Tino Rangatiratanga flags feeling an immense sense of pride for us as iwi Māori with our partners walking towards the potential of our future as a nation.
“Tūturu whakamaua kia tina! Tina! Hara mai te toki. Haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!”
Danette Abraham-Tiatai (Tūhoe, Ngā Rauru, Director)
You can connect with stories of impact from across our Leadership Lab ecosystem by signing up for this monthly pānui (see bottom of www.leadershiplab.co.nz), joining our Leadership Lab LinkedIn page, joining us on Facebook and browsing our website.
Thanks heaps for your interest and support.
February 29th, 2024
Our Waitangi experiences
Around February 6th, Waitangi Day, eight of our Leadership Lab team members shared a few incredibly meaningful days at Waitangi – Danette Abraham-Tiatia, Manz Smith, Shiloh Sutherland, Kimi Rogers, Joby Hopa, Jono Campbell, Gwyn John and Chris Jansen. In sharing their reflections on Waitangi day 2024, it is very clear that the experience of being there was very different than what was portrayed by the media which focused on the small pockets of tension. Read and listen to their reflections below:
“It was a powerful experience being at Waitangi this year standing on my tūrangawaewae. I definitely felt the strength of my Tipuna and I was reminded of a whakatauki;
Pataihia nga poupou o tōku whare
If we are searching for truth, it doesn’t sit outside ourselves but within.
Waitangi Day is a day of reflection, a day to honor the intentions of our tipuna, a day to stand in the light and love they left behind for us. A light and love that we are called to grow for our mokopuna to stand in. And just like Hinenuitepo we too are meant to be transformed by our pain. I left feeling empowered by love”.
Manz Smith (Ngā Puhi, Consultant)
“From the cool darkness of the pre-dawn service followed by the glorious sunrise and on into the baking afternoon, I saw many thousands of people showing 100% pride in our collective identity as Tangata whenua and Tangata Tiriti… celebrating with waiata, karakia, kapa haka, waka, kōrero, laughter, passion… and good coffee and all sorts of kai (mussel patties were the winner for me). It was so peaceful and inclusive and a real celebration of Aotearoa. Made me reflect that 1840 might have felt just like that as well. I felt deeply peaceful and proud all day… and determined to Toitū te Tiriti – uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi”
Chris Jansen (Tangata Tiriti, Director)
“Waitangi is many things, invariably it is not what is shared on the 6pm news. The experience of attending Waitangi, allows those of us who travel to be there to gain a deeper insight into not just the role of the Te Tiriti in Aotearoa but the unique perspective and relationship Nga Puhi have with Waitangi, Te Tiriti and the many movements that have originated in the far north. As you journey around the beautiful treaty grounds, it is astounding and concerning that just across the bay from the very place in 1840, Te Tiriti was signed and celebrated in good faith, only 5 years later the northern wars began, culminating in the shelling of Ruapekapeka 40km down the road, near Hikurangi in 1846. A stark and powerful reminder how quickly things can change. One of the absolute highlights of Waitangi was spending time with my daughter (who has whakapapa to Matawaia, Ngati Hine on her mum’s side) in the Wai-262 tent, hearing the amazing story of the Wai 262 claim. How can you not admire the foresight and courage of the original 6 claimants who had the vision and courage to use the systems afforded to them (that had previously been used to take and commercialise land and knowledge) to seek to preserve indigenous knowledge and wisdom. Wai 262 personally reminded me of all that is good at Waitangi, the desire of ordinary people with extra ordinary aspirations and vision who are willing to collectivise to seek to ensure that taonga are preserved and kept for future generations.”
Jono Campbell (Ngāti Porou, Kāti Māmoe, Consultant)
“I loved the vibe of everyone, no one was in a hurry, people were kind and patient despite the numbers and I loved seeing so many proud Maori.”
Kimi Rogers (Ngā Puhi, Consultant)
“I could comment about the awesome vibe, the amazing powhiri, haka, kōrero and display of mana motuhake. The vibrance of the performances and the beauty of being in a Māori space. But actually for me there was a deeper calling, a deeper pull in my heart for justice, for honour and to step up. One of our elders in the Pākehā/Tauiwi/tangata Tiriti space, Mitzi Nairn, who we sadly farewelled at the end of last year used to say that she wanted to be the sort of Pākehā that the Rangatira in 1840 thought they were entering into a relationship with. The sort of Pākehā that respected the authority and mana of the Rangatira (leaders) of this land. As the late great Moana Jackson would say the mana that “was gifted by tipuna (ancestors) to be exercised by the living on behalf of the mokopuna (future generations)”. I was struck by the fact that for 184 years, the voice of tangata whenua has been largely silenced and ignored and yet I saw hundreds, thousands of tangata whenua once again speaking up for justice, for the honouring of that agreement that was made in 1840. I was reminded that there have been Tangata Tiriti voices also calling for justice and honour, but we haven’t been strong enough and loud enough, I guess that’s because we have the luxury and the privilege of being able to opt out when it gets hard…which it does, but we need to do better. Being at Waitangi this year for me was a reminder of how important it is for us as Tangata Tiriti to step up and step in to the conversation, to take every opportunity to honour the sacred invitation we have to be here. And again I heard the call to us as Tangata Tiriti to stand up and be counted at a time when Māori voices are being silenced, to be the sort of people that our ancestors will be proud of. Toitū te Tiriti!”
Gwyn John (Tangata Tiriti, Consultant)
“The word Waitangi evokes a myriad of reactions from different people. For me it holds the potential from a point in time of our history and beyond. It also carries historical pain, struggle, strength and hope. Pain from unrealised promises, struggle as a result, strength because for 184 years iwi Māori are still turning up for the conversation and finally hope because there is more to come. To travel to Waitangi on that day that marks its signing is something I recommend every person in Aotearoa does. From the pōwhiri that ushered the present government onto the upper Waitangi grounds where warriors both male and female awaited the manuhiri with a wero (challenge). Not surprisingly a different kind of wero surrounded the grounds with signs in the way of silent protest and later in the moments of drama in the pōwhiri. To driving at 3.30am and seeing the glow of the red lights of cars as far as the eye could see in order to attend the dawn ceremony People from all walks of life, Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Tangata Moana and many more were there to be a part of the vibe that is Waitangi. The heat, the mussel fritters (you gotta get in quick), the standing in line for an hour to get coffee only to order and their power goes out, the stalls, the forum tent listening to many different speakers, music, kapa haka, the stalls, clothes, potae (hats), kai, mirimiri to release your tinana and your wairua, the friends you haven’t seen in years and the walking – have your steps counter running! Two moments for me were, as the sun came up it illuminated the spectacular surroundings along with the hundreds of people gathered on the Tiriti grounds and another was as I stood in the middle of the road having joined the hikoi that has come from the far north listening to the heart cry of our iwi and Tangata Tiriti in unison in the sea of He Whakaputanga and Tino Rangatiratanga flags feeling an immense sense of pride for us as iwi Māori with our partners walking towards the potential of our future as a nation.
“Tūturu whakamaua kia tina! Tina! Hara mai te toki. Haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!”
Danette Abraham-Tiatai (Tūhoe, Ngā Rauru, Director)
You can connect with stories of impact from across our Leadership Lab ecosystem by signing up for this monthly pānui (see bottom of www.leadershiplab.co.nz), joining our Leadership Lab LinkedIn page, joining us on Facebook and browsing our website.
Thanks heaps for your interest and support.