The Waitangi Forum group is calling for no Government at Waitangi in 2025.
This call follows the Hikoi mō Te Tiriti in November, where tens of thousands marched from Te Rerenga Wairua to Parliament in protest against the ACT Party’s Treaty Principles Bill.
“The people were clear throughout our hikoi, they do not want the government to come near the commemorations of Te Tiriti in Waitangi” says Eru Kapa-Kingi, organiser of Te Hikoi mō Te Tiriti and Kaipupuru for Waitangi Forum 2025.
Kapa-Kingi explained that during the hikoi, they specifically asked people - descendants of both He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti - whether they wanted a government presence at Waitangi.
“The people’s voice spoke in unison - there is absolutely no desire to welcome this anti-Māori government to our kaupapa, especially in the wake of its attempts to cancel Te Tiriti.”
In February this year, the coalition government was met with a strong reception at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, as many held ‘Toitū Te Tiriti’ placards in protest of the Treaty Principles Bill.
When ACT leader David Seymour spoke, his kōrero was drowned out by a waiata from the crowd, while NZ First’s Winston Peters was silenced by chants of ‘E noho, e noho!’ from the crowd.
Kapa-Kingi says the position to deny the government entry to Waitangi during the commemorations was also supported by Te Kotahitanga o Ngā Hapū o Ngāpuhi at the recent hui at Omanaia.
“For too long [Te] Tiriti commemorations at Waitangi have been controlled by Te Kāwana Pākehā,” he adds.
“Let’s be clear, this is our whenua, not theirs. This stand is also important to reclaim our moment, to use Waitangi week to affirm our Mana Māori Motuhake, not as a stage for empty political promises.”
“The growing rhetoric around keeping the government safe is backwards.”
Meanwhile Ngahuia Harawira, Pou Matua for the Waitangi Forum also supports the position.
“Closing the gate on them at Waitangi is our way of keeping the kaupapa safe and protecting what our mokopuna hear and see, e mea ana taku tupuna whaea a Kahurangi Whina.”
