17 March 2015

Ngāti Hine rebels with another cause

On the eve of the one hundred and seventy fifth year since the sacking of Russell and the outbreak of war in the North, Ngāti Hine is leading another rebellion and this time it’s against violence to families.

At Te Āhuareka o Ngati Hine last Saturday Chairman of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine Waihoroi Shortland among others signed the E Tū Whānau declaration on behalf of Ngāti Hine. With the theme for this year's festival being Tane Atawhai Men who Nurture, the signing adds to the highlighting of the positive role men play in the community.

“We are putting a new spin on our tupuna Te Ruki Kawiti’s final edict to his people, “Takahia te riri ki raro i o waewae.” Today we are telling our own that as Ngāti Hine we have to “trample violence beneath our feet.”

In signing the E Tū Whānau declaration at Ōtīria, Ngāti Hine launched its no tolerance of violence campaign within whānau, and in particular to women, children and mokopuna.

“It is especially binding on men, there is no campaign without them being up front and centre and ready to bite the bullet,” says Mr. Shortland.

We will be using every tool at our disposal to drive this message home, it will be carried through our health trust, and our radio station. It will find its way into every school and classroom within the ambit of Ngāti Hine and beyond.

In Kawiti’s time he charged Ngāti Hine to protect the document he signed up to, namely Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will expect Ngāti Hine will do no less with the E Tū Whānau Declaration.

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