Unions and Māori have united in solidarity against government policy, coming together for Rā Whakamana – a nationwide day of action calling to reaffirm the tino rangatiratanga of tangata whenua and protect the rights and wellbeing of all workers.
The mobilisation coincided with the 190th anniversary of He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand) and the first Labour Day demonstrations in 1890.
Despite the harsh weather which cancelled events in South Auckland and Tauranga, hundreds gathered in central Tāmaki Makaurau, braving the rain and heavy winds.
Crowds, including representatives from iwi, the PSA, E Tū, and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, as well as politicians, gathered at Okahu Bay to mark the beginning of the hīkoi, where they were welcomed by leaders of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
The hīkoi travelled from Okahu Bay to the Ports of Auckland through driving rain and wind.
Community Activist and leader of Kaiāwhina Tāmaki Bianca Ranson told RNZ the kaupapa is about creating kotahitanga in the face of government policies she describes as “attacks on Māori, workers and communities.
“For the first time, iwi and unions are uniting on this really significant day – 190 years since the signing of He Whakaputanga.
“Rā Whakamana is about recognising the mana of our wāhine, our workers, our rangatahi and tangata whenua, and coming together to create kotahitanga, strength and unity against this government and the attacks that are happening across all fronts,” she said.
Tāmaki Kaiāwhina is an Auckland-based community security or marshalling service working to keep people safe during protests. Ranson said they have supported over 200 kaupapa over the last two years, and Rā Whakamana was “the most inspiring.”
“Because as this develops and grows, the strength of iwi, tangata whenua, hapū, whānau coming together, united with workers, is massive.”
Ranson said the message from those activating was clear.
“We absolutely and completely reject all of the attacks against Te Tiriti, against workers, and against hapū, whānau and iwi.
“[This] is a united stand against this government and all of the attacks against pay equity, against workers, against wāhine, and also against us as tangata whenua, the Regulatory Standards Bill, and everything that we’ve seen so far, even with the MACA Bill.”
She said those activating across the motu are affirming their tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake as they “continue to fight for Te Tiriti justice and constitutional transformation.
“That is the hope and aspiration for all of us for our future and for the future of Aotearoa.
“We need to see this as a one-term government, because we will not tolerate any of this happening to our people, to our workers any longer.”
Also in attendance were Te Pāti Māori MPs Tākuta Ferris, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, and Tāmaki Makaurau MP Oriini Kaipara, who addressed the crowd at the end of the hīkoi.
“We’re activating for not only our workers’ rights, but our whānau rights – mums, nanas, grandads, sons, nephews, nieces,” she said.
“We all deserve what is owed to us, and that is guaranteed by Te Tiriti. We shouldn’t have to be begging for what’s right.”
Kaipara told RNZ the day marked an historic moment in the collaboration between iwi and the union movement.
“It’s the first time iwi leaders have come out in full support of union activations right across Aotearoa.
“Here in Tāmaki we have hundreds, if not thousands, of whānau living in vulnerable conditions – and many of them are the workers impacted by this government and previous governments who haven’t honoured the agreements.”
Kaipara said many workers are “fatigued, over it, undervalued and leaving in droves”.
“Today is about everyday citizens raising their voices to say, that’s enough.
“Our people need better pay, better working conditions, and to be honoured and recognised with proper support systems wrapped around them.
The Tāmaki Makaurau activation ended with karakia and the waiata Ngā Iwi E.
Meanwhile, around 300 people attended the activation in central Wellington.
The crowd were treated to music from the Brass Razoo Solidarity Band and waiata by students from Te Ara Whānui Kura Kaupapa Māori.
E Tū co-President Muriel Tunoho told RNZ it is a chance to take a collective stand against the government.
“There [is] strength in numbers and strength in voices coming together for this one kaupapa, and that one kaupapa has to be about getting rid of this government.”
E tū members are particularly concerned by the government’s changes to pay equity claims, she said.
“Job protection and job security in itself I think is all at risk under this government. I think this government has shown us that workers rights and tangata whenua rights are not their priority.”
Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff told the crowd that unions and Māori have very strong shared interests.
“We often say what’s good for Māori is good for workers and what’s good for workers is good for Māori. Unfortunately what’s bad for workers is what’s bad for Māori.”
Patient Voice Aotearoa chairperson Malcolm Mulholland was there encouraging people to sign the Buller Declaration, a petition signed by more than 50,000 people urging the government to address a “state of crisis” in New Zealand’s health system.
The declaration will be delivered to Parliament on November 18, he said.
Iwi and unions are often advocating for the same cause, he said.
“I think a lot of the unions advocate for Māori workers and a lot of the iwi clearly advocate for our people and there is obviously big synergies between the two, so having that relationship is important and having them come together is equally so.”
rnz.co.nz
