Waitangi Day 2024 for Sunday 6 February 2022

Mā singing into 2022 

Next we have yet another up and comer in te ao puoro, Mā, who from her makeshift, multi-purpose bedroom studio, released a dreamy soul soundscape self produced album, Breakfast With Hades, last year which is gaining popularity. Maarire Brunning-Kouka, no Ngāti Potou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa me Tūhoe is a self described theatre child - growing up in the arts - as she trooped around the country with rehearsals and performances with her parents Nancy Brunning and Hone Kouka her whole childhood.

Māni caught up with Mā in her backyard in Wellington's Te Aro, and they spoke about her healing journey through the album and to her mahi now as a kaitiaki for Ngati Toa Rangatira. 

Mā cover art Photo: supplied

Te Reo Māori petition 50 years on  

Te Reo Māori, and its survival, continues to be a focal point for Māori, and justifiably is debated and discussed each Waitangi Day. This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition, led by Hana Te Hemara. The petition was brought to the steps of parliament in 1972, spearheaded by rangatahi groups including Ngā Tamatoa. In the end, it gathered more than 30-thousand signatures calling for the active recognition of Te Reo Māori. 

Tumu Whakarae of Te Mātāwai, Poia Rewi. Photo: Supplied

Māori health provision in the teeth of Covid

Māori doctors and health providers have been working tirelessly around Aotearoa to support and encourage Māori whānau to get vaccinated against Covid 19. An important milestone was hit this weekend, 90 per cent of Māori now vaccinated with their first dose. It hasn't been an easy outcome to achieve and with Omicron now here, the push to get eligible whānau "boosted" and tamariki Māori vaccinated has become the goal. 

Joining Māni on the show are Dr Matire Harwood GP at  Papakura Marae and the representative of Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā National Māori Pandemic Group on the Ministry of Health's Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group, and Dr Jason Tuhoe, of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs and the deputy chair of Te Akoranga a Māui. 

Photo: Supplied

Piripi Walker

On Wednesday, an historic agreement that recognised Māori interest in spectrum was signed in parliament. 
The Māori Spectrum Working Group comprises representatives of Treaty of Waitangi claimants groups including Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau i Te Reo (Wellington Māori Language Board) and the New Zealand Māori Council. We are joined on the show by Piripi Walker, a doyen of Māori Radio and Māori broadcasting, and is a member of the Māori Spectrum Working Group representing Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau i te reo Māori.

Photo: RNZ Andrew Robertson

Ngā Tamatoa

50 years ago, a group of university students banded together to push back against the system, and call for an end to racism. They were Ngā Tamatoa - young warriors. 

They pushed for significant movements: they were vocal protesters at Waitangi, calling the treaty a fraud. They were key in gathering the vocal opposition to the Dawn Raids, rugby tours of South Africa, and infamously ending the so-called Haka Parties by engineering students at Auckland University. Māni Dunlop spoke to two of them, Ripeka Evans and Timi Maipi. 

Māori Land March – Wellington Motorway, October 1975. Photo: National Library

Dame Cindy Kiro

While she isn't able to be on the Treaty grounds, this is the first Waitangi day for Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro. She took up the role of Governor-General last year and is the first wāhine Māori to hold the role. Before she began the role she was chief executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Prior to that she had also been Children's Commissioner and the Chair of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group. Julian speaks to Dame Cindy about her views on today. 

Dame Cindy Kiro joins in singing the waiata Ngā Puawai O Ngapuhi at her swearing-in Photo: VNP / Phil Smith

Rangatahi leadership in a pandemic

The pandemic, and the public health response to it thrust people into positions they hadn't expected. This was especially true of young māori leaders who suddenly found themselves at the forefront of vaccination and public health rollouts around the motu. 

Julian Wilcox is joined by co-leaders of Ngāti Rangatahi Maioha Panapa & Tauawhi Bonilla to discuss the difficulties and opportunities of the pandemic response for rangatahi māori. 

Photo: Karawhiua

Waitangi day over 183 years

The way we as a nation mark Waitangi Day has itself gone through quite the transformation. Today, of course, the grounds are largely silent. But over generations, it's been a scene of carnivals and protests; reflection and commemoration; celebration and grievance. For much of the past 188 years, it wasn't marked at all. It wasn't until the 20th century that it started to be seen as a day to remember - although just how has proved contentious. Māori News reporter Jamie Tahana dove into the sound archive, to trace how Waitangi Day has changed in shape and appearance.

Sir Apirana Ngata leading a haka at Waitangi Day Feb 6, 1940 Photo: Alexander Turnbull Library

Christopher Luxon

This Waitangi Day is Opposition Leader, and National Party Leader, Christopher Luxon's first holding those roles. Whilst he couldn't attend Waitangi in person this year, he has been to Waitangi previously and is keen to discuss his aspirations for Aotearoa New Zealand as we look to Waitangi 2040.

Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Meng Foon

The Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has called for urgent action to pursue compulsory te reo Maaori in schools. He's written letters to the Education Minister political party leaders and other MP's to push the cause and wants to see Te Reo Maori as a core subject up to year ten. 

Meng Foon Race Relations Commissioner and former Gisborne mayor Photo: Supplied

Te Tii Marae in 2022

From the Chair of the Waitangi Trust, to the Chair of Te Tii Marae. Often referred to as the lower marae, Te Tii Marae holds the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Wharehui and the Chair carries the name of one the principal hapu of Waitangi. Joining us to discuss the happenings at Te Tii Marae is the Chair, Ngati Kawa Taituha.

Waitangi day, but not as we know it

The pandemic has seen significant events around the world rescheduled or cancelled. Here in Aotearoa has been no different, Covid-19 has effected one of the most important days in our nation's history. On this day one hundred and eight two years ago, over 40 rangatira signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

 Since then special commemorations of the signing have been held in Waitangi at the Treaty grounds. But, for the first time in many years there will be no commemorations in Waitangi. Waitangi National Trust Board Chairman Pita Tipene joins Māni and Julian to explain why they made the hard decision. 

View of the marae on Treaty Grounds at Waitangi National Reserve, Northland Region, in 2014. Photo: Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye/ 123RF