{"id":242,"date":"2025-10-22T20:49:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T07:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.takiora.co.nz\/?p=242"},"modified":"2025-10-23T15:16:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T02:16:34","slug":"in-support-of-tino-rangatiratanga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.takiora.co.nz\/index.php\/2025\/10\/22\/in-support-of-tino-rangatiratanga\/","title":{"rendered":"In Support of Tino Rangatiratanga"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Support of Tino Rangatiratanga<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(James Barnes (P\u0101keh\u0101) is a Te Tiriti o Waitangi Educator, and was raised speaking M\u0101ori)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Most of my writing on this blog has been about poverty, and ending it through socialism by taxing the wealthy elite of our country. I have shared a rationale for this (look back over earlier blogs to see this perspective… and my views on whaik\u014drero by the way). Here I write about something that coincides with my ideas for the poor<\/em>, which is where I believe the crisis is, tino rangatiratanga is also of great importance, but much has been expressed on the topic by others more authoritative than myself. I share my view briefly here <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing for Tino Rangatiratanga<\/strong>
M\u0101ori have a unique, indigenous connection to this land. I support Tino Rangatiratanga \u2014 self-determination<\/strong> \u2014 rooted in Te Tiriti o Waitangi<\/em>. Colonisation has had devastating effects, and supporting steps to reclaim M\u0101ori authority, life, and decision-making over all aspects of our country are essential<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Challenge of Capitalism<\/strong>
The aggressive capitalism we live under continues its exclusion of M\u0101ori from powerful decision-making against Te Tiriti o Waitangi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two paths: Continue the patient incremental work reclaiming rights and resources, or a democratic revolution. Public opinion is slowly shifting: M\u0101ori ward votes passed with just over 50% when tallied nationally which would be unthinkable 20 years ago. Marches like Toit\u016b Te Tiriti gather huge numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

King T\u0101whiao reminded us we must continue to \u201csqueeze\u201d the system, and that violence is as useful as a dried flax bush \u2014 change comes through persistence and strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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K\u0101wanatanga, Tikanga, and Shared Responsibility<\/strong>
A M\u0101ori leader spoke of his own governance (k\u0101wanatanga<\/em>) that would be guided by M\u0101ori culture and tikanga. Tikanga M\u0101ori, generally speaking, is deeply pro-environment and pro-wellbeing \u2014 values that everyone benefits from. As more non-M\u0101ori learn about M\u0101ori culture, colonisation, and capitalism, we can support peaceful realignment toward harmony \u2014 with the land and with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For Non-M\u0101ori: Learning and Standing Together<\/strong>
Capitalism is killing the environment, worsening climate change, and making inequality unbearable. Now is the time for non-M\u0101ori to draw on histories of collective good, support M\u0101ori tino rangatiratanga, and grow together toward wellbeing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T\u0113r\u0101 ng\u0101 waka o ng\u0101 iwi kua haut\u014dia ki tai, kia kotahi e tai m\u0101, ki te r\u0101 e \u0101kina ana e te hau!<\/em>
The many canoes of our people are being dragged to the ocean \u2014 all aboard, my friends, as the wind pushes the sail!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Two Voices on Freedom and Peace<\/strong>
Two quotes guide this work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople not only have the ability to think for themselves; they have the responsibility to do so.\u201d
\u2014 Noam Chomsky<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That non-M\u0101ori can be independent supporters of tino rangatiratanga while sharing goals of wellbeing and recollecting their histories and traditions that align with the aspiration to tino rangatiratanga<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cM\u0101u koa te p\u0101hua i t\u0113nei r\u0101, \u0101p\u014dp\u014d ia m\u0101ku koe hei p\u0101hua \u2014 he p\u0101hua ki te rangim\u0101rie.\u201d
\u2014 Parihaka<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was your devastation today; tomorrow you will be devastated \u2014 a devastation of peace\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To my knowledge, the overwhelming sentiment in response to crown violence from M\u0101ori has been how to live with peace internally and in relation to the world, which we can all learn from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pai m\u0101rire<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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