RANGATIRA INFLUENCES

I write this sitting in my mother’s home office, a place from which has flowed rangatira influences that have impacted generations of whanau hapu and iwi – none moreso than my own.    

The results of rangatira influences are matters for reflection at this time of year as we review the past and plan the future.  And, because God is the Big Influencer, ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te hapai o ki muri is how we begin and end both exercises.

There were wins and losses for te taha o te Rangatiratanga in 2014.  

We lost many rangatira, including Merimeri Penfold, Mark Pikaahu, Nin Tomas, Pereme Porter, Sol Whata, Wayne Evans, Mary Shan, Sally Pikaahu, Mason Williams, Ataarangi Matiu, Terry Tepania, Matekino Hack, Luke Tipene, Agnes Campbell and Jane Waipouri.  

Haere e nga mate.  Haere, takahia nga tapuwae o te tini o te mano, kua huri ki tua o te arai. Haere ki nga rangatiratanga, ki nga mana, nga pukorero o nga hau e wha kua mene ki te po. Toitu he kainga, whatu ngarongaro he tangata.  Ko koutou tenei kua haere; ka ngaro koutou, nga kaipupuri o te Maoritanga, nga kaihapai i nga mahi—e rau rangatira ma, haere, e moe i roto i te Ariki.  May we rejoice when once again we meet over the way.

At the other end of mortality, in 2014 we welcomed thousands of mokopuna i te ao marama; every one of them trailing clouds of glory.  Miharo!  May we ever remember who they truly are.

In 2014 we also lost te rangatira mangai i roto i te whare miere kei Te Whanganui a Tara.  At the same time we regained a passionate activist and leader back on the ground.  E Hone, ko koe he rangatira tonu i roto i tenei ao mo nga iwi rawakore.  May you be blessed with success in that role.

In 2014 we lost some ground to those elements i roto i Te Kawanatanga who think a good and balanced relationship with Te Rangatiratanga is one based on a history of ‘peaceful settlement’ before 1840 and their control since then.

But we also made more significant gains like the Waitangi Tribunal’s reaffirming report into Stage 1 of Te Paparahi o Te Raki Inquiry, and the increasing self-awareness amongst whanau hapu and iwi of our God-given Rangatiratanga.  May we always exercise that in Godly fashion.-

Overall 2014 confirmed that, to varying degrees we are all descended from rangatira of influence and each of us are, in turn, influential.  As such, my mother’s home and office were a great place to pen my final Northland Age column for 2014.

This Christmas season, may we use our influence to promote sacredness and safety within our respective whanau hapu and iwi, and may we ensure those influences flow into 2015.  Nga manaaki o te Atua ki a tatou katoa.