#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.

[ourdreamsareneon]

Piggy backing off my last post, if much like in 2016 you're going "I should just move to New Zealand" head my warning, little yanky

People are not going to like you. People will hear the accent and either think you're a Trump supporter or a stereotypical stoner valley dude with half a brain cell.

Learn a bit of Te Reo Maori. You don't have to learn a lot, just your basic greetings, but you should learn place names and pronunciation

There was a huge cover-up in 1948 when a group of American service men tried to stop Maori bar patrons from coming inside. Naturally, both white and Maori patrons beat the shit out of them. The fight involved hundreds of people. As far as we know, two people died in the Battle of Manners Street, both Americans. This was during an event called the American Invasion, where Aotearoa asked for British aid during the war and were sent Americans instead. Americans who were documented as mostly sitting around, being incredibly racist, and assaulting our wāhine. So maybe don't walk down Manners Street at night. It might be haunted, I dunno.

While you're looking at Te Reo, look a bit into Tapu and Noa. This is about things that are considered sacred, but it also just gives you good kiwi manners, like taking your shoes off when you go into someone's house and not sitting on tables.

Learn how to tō waha - shut up. All I hear from the Americans I've met living in Aotearoa is that the second they go home, they realise how loud Americans are. Take a deep breath, listen to nature, and lower your voice

Did you know ANZUS is no longer a mutual agreement of power because America got upset that Aotearoa is nuclear free and so didn't allow any US naval ships into port after 1984 because they had a policy of not confirming or denying if they have nuclear weapons on board? They're still kinda holding a grudge against us for it and disolved a whole allyship over it! All that to say, in 1987, we formalised our anti-nuclear stance, so whether travelling by air or by ocean, please keep all your W.M.Ds at home! (Bill Clinton reinstated our allyship in 1996 and gave us the status of "Major non-NATO ally" but that's the year my sister was born so I don't acknowledge it)

It's crazy that America is so anti-terrorism but when the French sunk the Rainbow Warrior in July 1985 and everyone, including their 'besties' Australia were like "yo bro the French just did a terrorism on New Zealand...that's like not cool right?" America refused to acknowledge it. Only in September, after France admitted guilt did America go "we hate terrorism grr" I don't know what my warning here is I kinda just remembered and went "huh." Don't do terrorism, but if you do it's okay because America will be chill with it?

While the two older halves of the ANZUS polycule were sending military forces into the Vietnam war, New Zealand just sent economic aid and medical aid. We're lovers, not fighters (#FreePalestine). We did, uhm... supply Agent Orange... but that was after America was like, "We'll kick you out of the polycule again," and that's just so much work. Peer pressure works on us. We're people pleasers.

There you go! Those are all my tips for relocating to the Better DownUnder! I could go on, but my therapist said I should avoid thinking about Bill Clinton and the Big Bad War on Terror if I want to make it to 30 ^_^ I hope this was helpful!!

[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

[emmajaydecashmere]

For those of you that love old buildings, history.

I hate living here but Wellington is cooler than I thought.

Screanshots from Facebook

- Feel free to reblog!

[airyairyaucontraire]

I was always impressed by what Georgina Beyer accomplished and I’m sad that her life has ended relatively early. She could be justly proud of what she did with it.

[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

[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

[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!

[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

[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