#nz history

[tetohe]

Hana-Rawhiti's Haka was entirely appropriate, not only given the situation, but in keeping with the way Māori do things.

In formal situations, such as a pōwhiri (English might be something like a welcoming ceremony?), speakers always end with a haka or a waiata (song). This is exactly what she did. She spoke when it was her turn to speak, then started the Haka. It is also keeping with tradition that others joined in, including those in the public gallery. While it's the speaker's duty to lead the haka, or nominate someone to do it for them, it is then open for anyone else to join in and support it. The haka and the speech are attached, so supporting the haka is also supporting the speech.

Approaching Seymour is a little more unusual, but that's only because most formal situations like this are between peaceful groups. However, it also makes an important point. The speech and haka were not against the space, not against the mana of parliament. It was against Seymour and his supporters. So approaching him makes that clear where it's directed.

Given this, the speaker's response show utter ignorance and contempt for Maori ways. If he had any understanding of how any of this works, he could've simply waited for the Haka to conclude, then called on the next speaker. As the Māori Party were keeping with tradition, they would've had to respect that, and sit. Instead, he closed down parliament and cleared the public out. He made this contentious, and took what is traditional as in insult.

Seymour's response is no better, complaining about wanting a "reasonable debate" instead of a "dance", ignoring that the Māori party has been debating this, along with almost every other institution in the country, since the draft was released. This was the party's final word, their final push back against his racist bill.

This, in a nutshell, is what the government thinks of Māori. Ignorance and contempt. No attempt to blend traditions, or even basic understanding. Just constant demands to conform. It's hidden behind manners, but it's the same civilised vs savages racism that's justified colonialism for centuries.

Hana-Rawhiti acted with amazing poise and mana. Toitū te Tiriti!

[ashadowofburnedoutstardust]

One for the literal history books...

50,000 people 🖤🥝

[cavedraconem]

Since there's a bit of interest in the Treaty of Waitangi right now around here...

I've just acquired this coins commemorating New Zealand Day, 1974. Now, those of you who are kiwis might be thinking, wait, what? The reason you're thinking that is because 1974 was both the first and penultimate New Zealand Day.

In the mid-20th century, there was quite a lot of agitation from Maori for more recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi (signed in 1840 between the tribal chiefs and the British crown). Among more substantive demands, one of the requests was for the anniversary of the signing (February 6th) to be recognised with a national public holiday.

In 1960, despite its election promise, the Labour government didn't declare a real public holiday: Waitangi Day was made a 'national day of thanksgiving and commemoration', and a region could choose to move one of its other public holidays to February 6th if they chose. Obviously no one but Northland (home of Waitangi itself) did so.

Finally another Labour government took the step of making it an actual public holiday... called New Zealand Day! Apparently this was already celebrated by kiwi diplomats overseas so it's not totally without precedent. The PM and Minister of Maori Affairs at the time considered this a unifying move, making the day a celebration of nationhood. The first New Zealand Day was the one commemorated by this very coin in 1974, and was celebrated with a massive theatrical display at Waitangi and televised throughout the land. ("'Imaginative pageantry or tasteless vulgarity?' asked the New Zealand Herald.")

After just one more New Zealand Day (much quieter), the concept was brought to an end by the incoming National government, and specifically its infamous PM Robert Muldoon (look up the NZ 1984 sometime). He renamed the day back to Waitangi Day, possibly as a sop to Maori activists who really would have preferred he got on with this new-fangled "Waitangi tribunal" that he was meant to be setting up to deal with their genuine grievances.

So that's the start and end of New Zealand Day (all info from NZ History dot govt). Would it have been more unifying than the Waitangi Day we have now? Probably not - certainly that hasn't worked for Australia Day, and there are plenty of issues both historical and present to protest.

By the way, if there are any kiwis reading, I absolutely recommend going to Waitangi sometime (and ideally knock around Paihia and Kerikeri and Russell a bit too while you're at it). The museum, marae and historical buildings there give you so much perspective on what the Treaty was and why it was signed. Plus the views out into the Bay of Islands are really nice - and maybe if you arrive early enough in the morning, you'll see a great heron taking off against the rising sun, just like on this coin.

[alwaystochocolate]

It's Pride Month here in Aotearoa!

And tvnz on demand has a free, short documentary series that explores the country's queer history.

From media representation to the homosexual law reform to queerness in the public sector, listen to people who were there, fighting for their rights and blazing the way forward, as well as those who were impacted by earlier stories and actions.

It's important that as we reflect on this history, we acknowledge how recent it is, and that we still have far to go before people can be themselves across the world and aren't discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and gender expression.

[silly-little-sidebloog]

Queen Street, Auckland

Queen Street, Auckland. Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972: Photographs of New Zealand. Ref: 1/2-046200-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22365578

[doobydoobydoowau]

bro is so wild off the bat like give me a moment to breathe??

this is literally the preface man you have so much time to be funny later

[marismoments39]

Me when I'm trying to be not depressed and then BOOM history class

Also this girl said "I'm gayer than you" and I still don't know what that means IDK I WAS TRYING TO PLAY WITH SOME SCISSORS BECAUSE THEY MADE A FUNNY NOISE AND THEN SHE WAS LIKE "OOOOH??" AND LIKE?? APPARENTLY I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG IDK BUT LIKE SHE ALSO SAID THAT DRINKING MILK WITHOUT ANYTHiNG ELSE WAS WEIRD SO ??? I don't think her words to me really mattered? I think?? ???? Idk?????

btw the context to that was she cut a piece of paper a bit curvy and she was like "omg I can't cut straight" and so she FORCED ME to do it and I LITERALLY CUT LIKE THROUGH THE WORD LIKE IT WAS

I literally cut it like that lol

anyways the lesson is there's no such thing as "more gay" or "less gay" than someone else. there's just not. don't compare people. also I DON'T WANNA WATCH THIS STUPID VIDEO ABOUT THE DAWN RAIDS IDK YEAH THE WORD USED TO SUCK I KNOW!!!! I ALREADY KNOW BUT I DON'T WANNA EXTENSIVELY STUDY-- THIS CLASS ACTUALLY SUCKS BTW- IT SUCKS!!!!! IT SUCKS!!!!! I DON'T LIKE HISTORY!! which is why I'm writing this tumblrpost IN CLASS because I DON'T WANNA SEE THIS VIDEO AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH

[ashadowofburnedoutstardust]

A brief historical summary:

The original treaty was a cessation of conflict agreement between English and local Iwi

The problem is that the original Treaty is technically unenforceable because the English language version was different from the Te Reo version

The English language version included an agreement to cede sovereignty to the British crown

The Te Reo version stated no such thing and as such Maori have never ceded sovereignty over the land of Aotearoa New Zealand

It was basically an attempt by the British to undermine the land rights of the indigenous people and as a result of being subject to international law surrounding the rights of indigenous people the Te Reo version of the treaty is the one that is upheld

The Treaty itself has been integrated into so many laws that it is unable to be ignored when developing any policy

Due to this agreement resulting in the confiscation of land The Waitangi Tribunal was set up in order to process claims against the treaty to enable reparations as well as the return of land

The bill that has been introduced to parliament is an attempt to rewrite the protections guaranteed by the original Treaty

The right wing parliamentarian who has introduced it has been found to have connections to the Atlas network and the purpose of attacking Te Tiriti is thought to be related to the ability to undermine our environmental protections to allow such things as mining our natural resources and gaining access to the sea bed for oil drilling due to the fact that the treaty conditions are able to be used to prevent this type of environmental disaster from occurring

The government is also trying to fast track another bill that undermines the environmental protections provided by the resource consent process

There is currently a nationwide march "Hikoi mo te Tiriti" heading towards the capital that will reach Wellington sometime next week

Hope that helps 🙏

Source: I live there 🥝

Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke, the youngest MP in Aotearoa, starts a haka to protest the first vote on a bill reinterpreting the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi

[annafromuni]

My New Zealand Book Recs

What better way to wrap up my New Zealand book discussions than with a book recommendations list. Unfortunately, I can not add every novel, short story, poem, or collection written by a New Zealander to this list as there would be far to many to note. Instead, I have listed the ones I have read so far, the ones I plan to read this year, books I have gotten out of the library for my dad, and…

[tetohe]

Māori have always been asking for partnership, but the crown has always said it doesn't want to share.

Sharing isn't dividing, and it isn't unfair. It's a lesson we teach toddlers, but somehow those in power refuse to understand it.

[ashadowofburnedoutstardust]

She's ripping up a copy of the bill itself by the way

[alwaystochocolate]

Also, for more info on hīkoi mō te Tiriti that wraps up on Nov 19th (the national protest march mentioned above) you can go to https://toitutetiriti.co.nz

You can also donate to support the movement!

For FAQs about the Bill and Te Tiriti as well as a bunch of other resources (and to order support merch) you can head to https://togetherfortetiriti.nz/

Together for Te Tiriti is an initiative led by the progressive, people-powered organisation ActionStation Aotearoa.

They're the ones hosting the petition opposing the Treaty Principles Bill that is still collecting signatures - you can sign it here.

much better footage of the haka that shut down parliament today

[enduringhosts]

🌹Lest we Forget 🌹

Kiwi grit on foreign soil—In early 1944, New Zealand forces fought through brutal conditions at Monte Cassino, facing fierce German resistance and devastating losses. As part of the Allied effort to break the Gustav Line, New Zealand fought for the historic Benedictine abbey which became a focal point of the conflict. Though the Allies suspected it was being used by German forces, the monastery was bombed into ruins—only for the rubble to provide even stronger defenses. Kiwis faced relentless resistance as they pushed through the devastation, paying a heavy price in one of WWII’s most grueling battles. Humbling to stand where they stood. To see all of the Kiwi ferns standing shoulder to shoulder with their brothers stirs the soul and makes one proud to be a kiwi 🕊️ The first two pictures are of the cemetery in Cassino, the second lot is in the abbey seen at the top of the hill in the distance. The last two slides is what made me cry and call home for the boys who couldn’t.

[could-they-be-a-pro-wrestler]

How successful would anyone from “Colonial Combat”…

Would you like to submit a character? Click this link if you do!

[tairaawhiti]

kaiteke is such a mean name like imagine being te kēmara and being such an eater that it earns u a name

[silly-little-sidebloog]

"Knight's tram, Raurimu", in a clearing in the bush, hauling logs

"Knight's tram, Raurimu", in a clearing in the bush, hauling logs.. Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: APG-1224-1/2-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22677542