Hurt and emotional pain can last a long time. In fact, unless people have a way of processing their hurt, it can last too long.
CORONER'S ACT
A few years ago my mahi as a SIDS prevention worker put me amongst the first on the scene whenever a Maori baby died anywhere in Auckland. My kaupapa – monitor and get the coronial process over ASAP so that the tangihanga can happen, because that’s our tried and true way to emerge from the grief and loss still reasonably whole and sane.
A few years ago my mahi as a SIDS prevention worker put me amongst the first on the scene whenever a Maori baby died anywhere in Auckland. My kaupapa – monitor and get the coronial process over ASAP so that the tangihanga can happen, because that’s our tried and true way to emerge from the grief and loss still reasonably whole and sane.
Every culture dislikes post mortems. I’ve been to many and still believe that, unless there are suspicious circumstances or the family want to know something about the cause of death that may only be discoverable through autopsy, they are mainly a training ground for those in the medical, legal and police fraternities. Engari, all I could do at the time was explain to the whanau pani what was happening and offer to stay with their baby every second as its Kaitiaki until the tupapaku was returned to them and the tangihanga could resume.
Now, while most police, pathologists and funeral directors are lovely people, few of them are trusted by Iwi Maori to be able to give the assurance – “Kei whakahokinga matou te tupapaku katoa o tou kohungahunga – we have returned your baby’s body intact.” I could, and such a little thing makes a world of difference to the living of any culture.
Yet, in spite of submissions asking for it, the new Coroners’ Act still does not include trained Kaitiaki amongst the classes of people who can represent whanau interests during the coronial process. The Act has a number of similar flaws, so come on Hone, Shane, Pita or John – work with us to amend this Act please.
TREATY CLAIMS' NEGOTIATIONS
Remember how the original Humpty Dumpty said scornfully to Alice, 'When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.' Well that’s what negotiating with this government is like. When challenged, their answer is along the lines of, “Get stuffed, we’re the boss!””
Remember how the original Humpty Dumpty said scornfully to Alice, 'When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.' Well that’s what negotiating with this government is like. When challenged, their answer is along the lines of, “Get stuffed, we’re the boss!””
Example – in the 1980s 27B memorials were created on Crown lands under claim that were being transferred into the SOEs. The idea was that the land would remain available for inclusion in any eventual settlement. SOEs could still use or on-sell it in the interim, but always with the understanding that it could end up having to be repurchased for inclusion in a settlement. Bit like ensuring, before a divorce settlement, that one partner can’t give away all their joint assets to avoid having to share anything with the other.
Since then the Crown has given an unwritten nod and wink to buyers of such land that all they have to do is put a building or any improvement on it and Iwi Maori can kiss their chances goodbye of ever getting it back through a Treaty claim. For Ngati Kahu that includes the Rangiputa station and myriads of small but highly valued coastal sections.
Well it might be legal under Humpty Dumpty, but it will never be right. You have to wonder what hurt happens to the personal integrity of any Crown negotiator who has to defend it? My moko has a word for it – creepy.
No comments:
Post a Comment