All female political leaders could be granted speaking rights and Te Tii Marae could once again host the Prime Minister at next year’s Waitangi commemorations
Tradition and tikanga (protocols) are pride of place when political parties descend on Waitangi in the first week of February, to hold political talks and commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
While Ngāpuhi tikanga has evolved by moving political talks away from the controversial Te Tii marae, to the more neutral Te Whare Runanga, the ability for any women to speak on the paepae has remained a no-no.
Since Labour’s Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister, an allowance has been made for her to speak from the mahau (porch) while other female political leaders have had to get males to speak on their behalf.
That discrepancy came to a head in February when National’s deputy leader Shane Reti, who is of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine descent, laid down a challenge to make it fair for all women.
He was speaking on behalf of his leader, Judith Collins, who was given a commitment by Ngāti Hine elder, Te Waihoroi Shortland, that things would change next year.
But that promise came ahead of any consultation.
Now the Waitangi National Trust Board, which manages the day-to-day running of the Treaty grounds and its commemorations, is doing the leg work to see whether there’s an appetite for change.
Reti told Newsroom the fact consultation is even happening is a sign there’s a willingness to allow women to speak.
Both Reti, who is the Opposition’s representative on the trust, and Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime, who represents the Government, are part of the working group that has been set up to consult with wider iwi.
The trust’s chairman Pita Tipene and deputy chair Tania Simpson have also been appointed to the working group.
Together the four will speak to a number of people including Ngāpuhi elders Titewhai Harawira, Hone Sadler, Shortland and Dame Naida Glavish.
Tipene told Newsroom it’s important to get feedback from across the spectrum and a number of younger people within Ngāpuhi, who are increasingly involved in the political talks, would also be approached.
All of that work will be done over the coming months with an aim to report back to the wider trust board by the end of this year, when a final decision will be made.
Tipene has previously told Newsroom he’s more concerned with Ngāpuhi women being granted speaking rights before worrying about politicians.
He also wants to see political talks move away from blatant politicking, and instead refocus the dialogue on Māori kaupapa.
The working group will not only form a decision about Waitangi, but also how any other functions at the Treaty grounds will be run in future.
Ardern has only attended Te Whare Runanga as Prime Minister after a decision was made in 2017 to move the political talks to the upper marae the following year.
For the first time since 2017, the Labour Māori caucus returned to Te Tii this year after deputy leader Kelvin Davis made a promise to Ngāpuhi and Labour stalwart Rudy Taylor in the months before his passing.
Ardern didn’t go with the caucus, but the foundations are being laid for her potential return.
Davis told Newsroom it would be for the Prime Minister to choose, but her returning to Te Tii is a possibility.
The Māori caucus will have that discussion and present Ardern with a range of options closer to the time.
As for the political talks returning to Te Tii, Davis said the pōwhiri welcoming politicians would remain at Te Whare Runanga, and anything beyond that were decisions still to be made.
On whether all female political leaders should be afforded the opportunity to speak from the mahau or paepae, Davis said “any decision on any marae is up to the people who run the marae’’.
He said the Government would respect and support whatever conclusion the trust board came to after consulting with Ngāpuhi.
"At the moment I’m encouraged there will be change." - National's Shane Reti
Reti said he would report back to the National Party caucus later in the year about how the working group was tracking.
“At the moment I’m encouraged there will be change. If it wasn’t going to progress any further then the board would have made that deliberation.
“In fact it was quite the opposite with a working group being set up,’’ Reti said.
