Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka has reaffirmed that National will not be voting in support of the Treaty Principles Bill amid the arrival of the hīkoi of activation to Parliament.
“Mōhio ana kei te rongorongo mātou i ngā kōrero kei te ngutu o te iti me te rahi, me te mea nei ka whakahē Te Rōpū Kahurangi i tēnei pire me tōna haere.”
“Know that we’re hearing the discourse from groups big and small and that the National Party will oppose the progression of this bill.”
As Te Whanganui-ā-Tara is expected to host an estimated 30,000 on to parliament steps, Potaka came to meet the people on Parliament’s steps to witness the crowds come from all over.
“Kei te tuputupu mai te ātaahua me te purotu o ō tātou iwi, hapori, ahakoa tangata Māori mai, [tangata] tiriti mai, Pasifika mai, aha rānei. Me te mea nei kua kite i te oranga o tō tātou iwi me tēnei āhuatanga o te Mana Motuhake.”
“The beauty and richness of our people and communities is being expressed, whether they are Māori, Tiriti allies, Pasifika people, or whomever they may be. But also seeing the life force of our people and this aspect of self-determination being seen.”
Although Potaka was waiting at Parliament for the arrival of the hīkoi, spectators commented on whether his fellow MPs would make an appearance alongside him.
Potaka said his focus was the importance of seeing his people for himself, and sharing what his hopes and aspirations were as New Zealand continued the discussions post-hīkoi of activation.
“Ko tāku e wawata, e minamina ana i tēnei wā, kia tika te mana taurite o ngāi tātou ki tērā o ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa. Me te mea nei, e kite ana i ngā pāheketanga i roto i ō mātou hapori, pērā i ngā mahi whai whare, i ngā mahi mātauranga, ngā mahi hauora, me ērā atu momo mahi.”
“What I hope for at this time is for us to have equal rights with all New Zealanders. As it is, we see the challenges in our communities, such as housing, education, health, and other types of things.”
Potaka said although the focus on today’s discussion was the government’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, he said the ultimate goal was to uphold the aspirations set out by those before them.
“Ko taku uaratanga matua ki te whakariterite mai, ki te whakaea hoki i ngā wawata i tuhia mai e Tā Apirana Ngata, koia ko Te Utunga mō te Raraunga, The Price of Citizenship. Koirā hoki tāku i kite i roto i ngā tuhinga o nehe me ngā tuhinga o tērā whare paremata, o tēnei whare paremata.”
“My main goal is to organise and fulfill the aspirations written by `Sir Apirana Ngata, in his book The Price of Citizenship. That is what I saw in the documents of the past and the documents from parliament in the past. Which is what you’ll see in this parliament as well.”