
3 minute read
Pipiwharauroa
Meka Whaitiri
Kia ora everyone and Happy New Year. I hope you were able to spend some valuable time with friends and whānau and that you now feel rested and ready for 2023.
Advertisement

It’s been a challenging start to the year for many on the East Coast as a result of the destruction and damage caused by Cyclone Hale in early January. Many parts of the region are still cut-off and the clean-up and recovery will take time.
I want to thank all those who stepped up to help in the immediate aftermath of the flooding including the fantastic Tāirawhiti Emergency Management team at the Gisborne District Council as well as the other first responders, roading and power crews, food suppliers and Defence Force
Mere Pōhatu Freedom
I respect the Prime Minister. The PM position is the face of democracy. Prime Minister Ardern was brave, clever and beautiful, a tremendous asset for Aotearoa. Like most politicians, she was tuned in to the cut and thrust in the political trenches and parliamentary benches.
Our previous PM was, and is, a lovely human being. Besides all of that she had a deep love for Tūranganui ā Kiwa.
Unlike most politicians, she was she. Unlike most political leaders, she was also a new younger generation of leadership around the world.
Unlike previous political leadership in Aotearoa, she was dealt incredibly unusual circumstances and issues to deal to and steward through.
Unlike previous Prime Ministers, she experienced the most terrible act of terrorism and international viral disease pandemics, the likes of which we should never have on our whenua. She, the PM, staff who were working around the clock in Gisborne and up the Coast in very trying conditions.

I was grateful to be able to get out and spend a couple of days up the Coast visiting a range of locals affected by the flooding and the impact it has had on their farms, coastlines and businesses. This is of course not the first time farmers and growers in Tāirawhiti have had to deal with major flooding and threats to their livelihoods in recent years and it’s fair to say there is a sense of exhaustion from many of the locals I’ve spoken to who, in a short space of time, have gone from recovery to relief and then back into recovery.
While a full and final assessment of the damage caused by Cyclone Hale is still to be completed, the government has already announced significant financial support to support the region’s recovery. An initial contribution of $150,000 from the Mayoral Relief Fund was made available to ensure impacted communities can deliver immediate support to those in need, while the Ministry for Primary Industries has made $100,000 available to farmers and growers in the region including one-on-one mentoring support. co-built the policy response with every one of us in mind. It was game on and defend at all costs. Almost immediately extremist opinions and thinking flowed in from the darkest international corners. Freedom.
The Ministry for Social Development is also making up to $500,000 available to employ job seekers to support the cleanup. Having seen the damage from Cyclone Hale up close it’s clear that the recovery will be ongoing but I can assure you all that the government will continue to offer as much support as it can.
Finally, I would like to congratulate our new Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, and new Deputy Prime Minister, Carmel Sepuloni. They both live the Labour Party values, and put people and whānau at the heart of what they do. I look forward to working alongside them as we countdown to the election in October. I’d also like to thank Jacinda Ardern for the courage, empathy and aroha she displayed in leading Aotearoa during a challenging five and a half year period. I wish her, Clarke and Neve all the best for their future together and, if they need a beautiful location for their upcoming nuptials, Tāirawhiti would welcome you with open arms.
Well, where I've come from and over the years I’ve heard some of the best insults between humans there ever has been. I’ve marvelled at the wit and sharp intellects of politicians towards one another. Downright clever.
How on earth did we turn into a nation of hate talkers? Not here, not in Aotearoa. Surely not.
I’ve only ever known two politicians on a personal level. Enough to know they both received a few hate letters. Parekura got the Foreshore and Seabed. Hekia got the education unions and oil exploration letters. Some were personally offensive. Gosh we can be a hard lot. Talking tikanga and values, then acting out like they don't exist. Let's talk about policy would be a typical Hekia response. Parekura, on the other hand, would say “that's paru talk” to people talking rubbish.
The previous PM, she was all class. At first, I thought it was funny that the people wanting more freedoms were getting together in convoys. Then I thought this is getting scary. Frightening.
Convoys and campsites were taking on a whole new meaning. Their intent turned into a strategy to demonise a clever and thoughtful young woman leader. I saw images so gross and akin to rape and pillage.
The thing is that bad behaviour is still here in Aotearoa. It's here in Tūranganui ā Kiwa.
That’s why Pīpīwharauroa and its reading community is so important. Pīpī content is all about being humble, purposeful, Māori thought leadership, real information and encouragement.
Pīpīwharauroa sees 2023 as the year to celebrate kids in Kura. We will all go down hard on any and all unacceptable insults, violations, and stuff that shatters our individual, personal, collective and public selves. All for freedom, with the greatest of respect.