A Tongan youth advocate is calling on Pasifika communities to make their voices heard by submitting feedback on the controversial Treaty Principles Bill.
“Our Pacific community is really rallying up for the first time. I’ve never seen that in other movements prior as strongly as this,” says rangatahi advocate Simulata Pope, referring to the large turnout of Tangata Moana during last month’s Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti.
“Our Pacific community is saying yup, we have a responsibility not only as a Te Tiriti ally, but also contextually and historically, that this is our time to give back to the people that showed us [manaakitanga]. [It’s] a really lovely conversation in a really hard time.”
Pope, of Tongan and Niuean descent, grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau, and says her appreciation for Māori culture deepened through her school years, friendships and connections with whānau.
Having worked in child-rights and youth development in Aotearoa and Tonga, often with tamariki in state care, Pope says there are a lot of shared experiences between Māori and Pasifika.
She encourages Pasifika voices to be heard, regardless of their position on the bill.
“Historically understanding things like the Mau Movement, also our Kiingitanga through Tonga as well - there’s really close relationships of our Māori partners with Tangata Moana.”
Pope explains that Tangata Moana face tension and complexity in journeying alongside Māori, as both communities share a history of pain and a common fight for recognition.
“We share a historical mamae together and we also share the same journey of having a say together.“
The Toitū Te Tiriti movement has gained international attention, particularly after Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke performed a powerful haka in Parliament, with videos gaining over 500 million views online.
However, Pope says the movement has also brought awareness to Pasifika people in Aotearoa who have been unaware of these kaupapa for many years.
“I’m hearing a lot of elders not knowing what Te Tiriti o Waitangi stands for, what the context is and I love that this has opened up a conversation for a lot of our elders.”
But the argument of equity and equality remains pressing - a confusing conversation, Pope acknowledges, around whether what is good for all will be good for Māori.
“There’s a certain sense from Pacific communities [around], why would we contest something that would be good for us?” she says.
“[But] in the notion of actually knowing the realities or the stark details that are in danger when we’re having this conversation - [all] of those things have been brought to light.”
Pope encourages all Pasifika communities to learn more about kaupapa like Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“It is really easy to do your research if you look in the right places. Just do simple things like learn reo, be amongst tikanga, actually know what tika and pono is.”
“What are you doing to give back to Aotearoa knowing that we’re never on the same playing field? [And] I guess for any Pacific person that’s listening, [imagine] living like that in your own country and having to hear it decades and decades onwards that you are always less than.”
Pope says many Tongan youth have started submission centers to help others make their voices heard.
Submissions for the Treaty Principles Bill are open until 11.59pm on January 7th, 2025
