He rau ringa e oti ai

An Indigenous perspective of diversity and inclusion in Aotearoa New Zealand

Aleisha Amohia @aleishaamohia

Agenda

• He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi
  • The problems
  • The articles
• The impacts of colonisation
• Lessons from mātauranga Māori

Diversity and inclusion work must include Indigenous people and perspectives and acknowledge the past

He Whakaputanga

• He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni - the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand
• How Māori leaders told the world that New Zealand was an independent Māori nation
• New Zealand’s first ‘constitutional document’
• A declaration of Indigenous power

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

• Signed 6 February 1840
• Agreement between Māori chiefs and British Government which made New Zealand a British colony

The problems

• The Treaty of Waitangi was written in English, then translated into the Māori language, into Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• In the English version, Māori cede sovereignty to the British Crown
• In the Māori version, Māori do not cede sovereignty
• The incorrect translation meant the treaties were not the same
• The Māori version is the binding treaty

Four articles

• Kāwanatanga
• Tino Rangatiratanga
• Ōritetanga
• Wairuatanga

Article One - Kāwanatanga

• Granting the Queen the power to govern British people in Aotearoa

Article Two - Tino Rangatiratanga

• Māori to maintain authority of lands, settlements and all that is valuable to Māori
• Could not be ceded through a treaty

Article Three - Ōritetanga

• A promise of equity - royal protection and full citizenship

Article Four - Wairuatanga

• Religious freedom
• Recognition and respect for Indigenous principles and practices

The impacts

• Lack of respect for differences
• Lack of trust between Māori and the Crown
• Wars, environmental destruction, systemic racism
• Waitangi Tribunal established to hold the Government to account

Improvements for Indigenous people improve things for everyone

Whakawhanaungatanga

• Process of establishing relationships and relating to others

Te taiao

• Treat the natural environment as your ancestor
• Indigenous people have a special connection to the land where they are from

Tuakana-teina

• A relationship between a mentor and a mentee
• Learning and teaching flows both ways

"Many hands make light work"

"He rau ringa e oti ai"

Gender equality and diversity work must include Indigenous women

Any questions?