CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY

Na e aku tuakana teina aroha, ko ahau ko Anahera ki te ritenga o te mahi e tau ana ki runga ki a au hei mahi maku ki te Atua, hei whakanui maku i toku karangatanga i runga i te whakaaro nui, kua tae ake nei ahau ki a koutou i tenei ra kia whakapuaki ai ahau i te kupu a te Atua ki a koutou. One of the things that defines being Ngati Kahu is spirituality. Go to any hui and you can guarantee that someone will be called on to open and close it in karakia. Prayer is great, but not when it’s used to disguise ill-will. I am talking directly to you who lost the battle for Ngati Kahu’s mandate.

The mandated negotiators work hard to keep everyone informed, including you. But you work harder at staying uninformed. Na, kei te mohio tonu koutou, i nga wa kua pahure ake nei, i u tonu ratou ki te whakarite i te karangatanga i karangatia ai ratou. Yet you won’t come to the well-notified monthly Runanga hui where there’s a clear standing agenda item – ‘Negotiators’ Report’ – up for discussion every time. I personally put into your hands all the written negotiators’ reports that had been tabled for the last four years. But, instead of acknowledging their hard work, integrity and transparency, you called a hui and gave them two days notice that their presence was required to report to you. When they declined to meet this unreasonable ‘request,’ you complained you were being ignored instead of owning up to the truth that you were being ignorant.

You want the negotiators to work with and for your leader because you reckon he can open doors in government that they can’t. That might or might not be true. But more to the point, if this government is willing to do a better deal with someone who failed to get the mandate of the people, rather than with those who hold it, doesn’t that ring ethical alarm bells for you?

The negotiators have had a presence at all your hui except the last one so, if you genuinely want to know and have a say in what’s happening, come to the next Runanga hui at Kareponia on the 31st. And before you moan at being talked to through the media, remember that you’ve had this invitation put to you in person several times already, but still haven’t come.

Ae ra, nana toku wairua i whakapouri nana ahau i mea kia memenge i te whakama i mua i te aroaro o toku Kai-hanga, kia whakaatu atu ahau kia koutou mo te kino o o koutou ngakau. He mea pouri ano hoki ki ahau kia korero ahau me te maia, me te nui o te reo ki a koutou, i te aroaro o a matou kaumatua me a matou kuia, he tokomaha o ratou e tino ngawari ana ta ratou whakaaro, e hekore ana, e tu-oi ana i te aroaro o te Atua, ko te mea ia e ahuareka ana ki te Atua.
You have a clear choice before you. Follow the path of the one who sows discord amongst the people, and you might reap war. Follow the path that Paul recommends in 1 Timothy 2:1 – 2, and we will all reap peace.

Both paths are spiritual, but only one is tika. Hei konei. Hei kona.