New Zealand Human Rights Commission calls on United Nations to hold Government to account for breaching Wairarapa Moana human rights

He Pā Harakeke: He whakakīkī i ngā whāruarua

A pā harakeke is often used as a metaphor to depict the familial relationships. The flax grows in clumps of three – with the shoot in the middle being the ‘rito’. If the rito were to be cut, the parent shoots on its immediate sides will perish.

Hei whakakīkī ī ngā whāruarua is about filling in those gaps where shoots are missing. The plight of Wairarapa Moana is to ensure those familial relationships are recognised in the context of these claims.

On 18 April 2023 Anne Carter, Committee of Management member, addressed the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York. She described the passing of settlement legislation whilst Wairarapa Moana Incorporation had active legal proceedings before the Waitangi Tribunal as “an egregious act by the New Zealand Government.”

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“They:

• Breached Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand).

• Forced a settlement of our claim without our free, informed, and prior consent.

• Violated our human right to have our claim and lawful rights heard and properly determined by the New Zealand courts.

• Have repeatedly acted in a way which is inconsistent with the intent and articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

“We have been denied access to justice.”

Professor Claire Charters, Rongomau Taketake (Indigenous Rights Governance Partner), at New Zealand Human Rights Commission, in a statement to the United Nations Permanent Forum the following day, called on the United Nations to hold the New Zealand Government to account for breaching

Wairarapa Moana human rights and indigenous peoples’ rights. Charters told the Forum: “The Commission supports the Wairarapa Moana group represented here at the Permanent Forum.”

“As they claim, Parliament’s legislative override of their lands, territories and resources, recognised by the independent Waitangi Tribunal and the Supreme Court, is of upmost concern. Such action is abhorrent to the rule of law, fundamental human rights and indigenous peoples’ rights under the Declaration.

Journey to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, New York

Anne Carter’s personal reflections on the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, New York, April 2023.

Why did Wairarapa Moana Incorporation decide to attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), New York, April 2023?

When the New Zealand Government passed legislation removing the jurisdiction of the Waitangi Tribunal to hear our resumption application in the middle of active legal proceedings, that action constituted a breach of our human rights, and our rights as indigenous peoples.

As far as we’re aware, the only other time a New Zealand Government has done something similar was in relation to Ngāti Apa, and the Foreshore and Seabed. There is an element here of racial discrimination. Our decision to go to New York was basically to highlight this action to the United Nations, and the UNPFII. Many Māori organisations throughout Aotearoa encouraged us down this path. Like us, they don’t think the New Zealand Government’s action should just be swept under the carpet, without consequences.

The New Zealand Human Rights Commission has called on the United Nations to hold the New Zealand Government to account. We agree.

What was it like at the United Nations?

It was great being amongst so many other indigenous peoples. While we all have different issues and challenges, we stood united in helping each other to have our voices heard. I felt very privileged to represent Wairarapa Moana Incorporation owners at the forum.

Highlights?

Day 3, when Professor Claire Charters, New Zealand Human Rights Commission spoke in support of the Wairarapa Moana statement. I had a little tangi.

Day 5, the opportunity for a one-on-one with Francisco CaliTzay, Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Issues to discuss Wairarapa Moana and our concerns about the actions of the New Zealand Government. He reminded me that he was a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that investigated the New Zealand Government’s actions in relation to the Foreshore and Seabed.

Biggest Challenge?

Getting my message to the United Nations Permanent Forum in 3 minutes. Not 3 minutes, 10 secs. Three minutes, and then your mic is turned off.

Gratitude and thanks

Professor Claire Charters, New Zealand Human Rights Commission for her support and guidance.

Alex Hill, Auckland University for assisting with our package of material for Permanent Forum members.

Annette Sykes, Legal Counsel for the Pouākani Claims Trust for the whakataukī for our statement to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Federation of Māori Authorities Award recognises contribution to whenua Māori

At the recent Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) Summit at the Wharewaka, Wellington, Anne Carter received the Me Uru Kahikatea Award for her contribution to FOMA. The award was in recognition of her services to Māori.

A big focus of Anne’s mahi in recent times has been on the sustainable use of whenua Māori, Te Ture Whenua Māori, changes to resource management, and advocacy for Māori rights and interests in natural resources, particularly Māori land entities, marae, ahi kā, hapū.

In accepting the award, Anne emphasised that her work for Māori landowners and FOMA was a reflection of Wairarapa Moana Incorporation’s commitment to rangatiratanga, kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga and kotahitanga.

She acknowledged the support of her whānau, both Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Raukawa ki Tonga.

Golden Shears is back…

2023 saw the Golden Shears bounce back after two years of Covid-related cancellations. Three days of nonstop action and entertainment, the Golden Shears is the pinnacle of international shearing and wool handling competitions.

More than eighty competitors from overseas registered for the event, among more than 370 vying for top honours.

Champion shearer, Rowland Smith, achieved the goal he’d set all season, when he won an eighth Golden Shears Open shearing title at the Trust House Recreation Centre in Masterton, home of the Golden Shears.

In the wool pressing, Masterton’s Goodger brothers again battled for the men’s singles title, with Jeremy scoring a fourteenth win, claiming the title back from brother Vinnie, winner four times in a row from 2017 to 2020.

A 10-year-old shearer added another dimension to the multi-generational whānau involvement in the wool industry when he participated in the Novice Heats of the shearing. Among the fifty-one novice shearers was Wairua Edmonds, of Masterton, in competition for the first time, and the fourth generation of the family spanning almost 61 years of competition since it was first held in 1961. His dad, Levi; koro Dave; and great-grandfather, Milton Edmonds, have all competed at the Golden Shears.

Wairarapa Moana director, Sonya Rimene, was on hand to present the prizes to the competitors in the Wairarapa Moana Māori / Pākehā Teams Shearing event.

WMI is proud to sponsor the Māori / Pākehā teams’ event at the Golden Shears. “Whenua, whānau and kaimahi are most important to us at WMI,” said Sonya, and they sure were in abundance at this year’s Golden Shears.

Placings in the event:

1. David Gordon and Jacob Moore

2. Whakapunake (Naki) Maraki and Paul Hodges

3. Reuben Alabaster and Matthew Hunt