LAWLESS MĀORI LEADERS

The closest Pākehā term there is for tikanga is ‘law.’

It’s not necessary to be steeped in tikanga Māori to live by it, anymore than it’s necessary to be steeped in Pākehā law to live by that. In fact, given that there are currently almost 2000 separate Acts in this country, I’d argue that it’s simpler to live by tikanga Māori. However I would also concede that it’s not necessarily easier.

That is a debate I’m happy to have at any time with anyone. However what is not open to debate is that Māori leaders who operate outside of tikanga pose a problem for their whānau, hapū and iwi.

To illustrate; within any whānau, hapū or iwi we have a problem if our leader makes a habit of abusing women or children, has the sexual morals of an alley cat, can barely get through the day without a toke, regularly puts the opinions and needs of others before ours, thinks they know better than us what is good for us, has an ego bigger than our national debt, is prone to doing deals and selling us down the river, and refuses to take our instruction.

We especially have a problem if we do nothing about the problem.

Given our paradigms of collectivism and whakapapa, the impact of such serious tikanga violations by our leaders radiate through and across the generations, and they often take their uri with them.

Tikanga violations may eventually be forgiven, but they can never be tolerated, particularly by our leaders. If we turn a blind eye, we as good as say to the world that their violence, infidelity, addiction, corruption, egotism or whatever, is OK. Worst of all, we condemn that leader to their weakness and become complicit with them in all they do.

To stop the damage, we must apply tikanga to bring an erring leader to account and give them a chance to take corrective action or be removed.

If we want to confuse and diminish our whānau, hapū or iwi, all we need do is appoint, follow and tolerate lawless leaders. If we don’t want those outcomes, then we need to do the opposite.

Tikanga or kaore he tikanga. It’s just as simple as that.