Ngā Toki Whakarururanga and MFAT CEO Strengthen Relationship
Co-convenors Moana Maniapoto and Pita Tipene and other Ngā Toki Whakarururanga representatives met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief executive Bede Corry in Wellington to discuss next steps in our working relationship. We agreed on an ambitious timeframe to develop additional protocols that build on our Mediation Agreement and strengthen our ability to ensure the Crown is meeting its Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations in the trade space. We appreciate these opportunities to meet with the kāwanatanga to discuss ways to improve the work that we do together.
Evidence to Waitangi Tribunal Climate Change Hearing
From April 7 to 11 the Waitangi Tribunal hearing for the Climate Change Priority Inquiry (Wai 3325) was held online. The inquiry is investigating the Crown’s acts and omissions regarding climate change, focusing on the physical, spiritual and socioeconomic impacts on Māori, and whether the Crown’s response has been in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
In the first hearing, Ngā Toki Whakarururanga pūkenga Professor Maria Bargh gave evidence of how Indigenous knowledge and solutions are marginalised in international trade, investment, and climate negotiations, denying Indigenous peoples, including Māori, an independent and equal voice in decision-making. This undermines rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga, hindering efforts to protect the whenua from degradation and to address the impacts of climate change in ways that align with tikanga Māori. Her research on “green extracitivism” exposed how “green technologies” for a “green economy” are premised on ongoing and even increased mineral extraction as a new stage in the colonial paradigm.
At this hearing, pūkenga Professor Jane Kelsey challenged the Crown’s failure to recognise mana Māori motuhake and actively protect tikanga Māori in international trade and investment agreements as they relate to the climate crisis. Drawing on Dr Moana Jackon’s evidence in earlier inquiries that Māori never ceded their mana to make treaties between nations, she rejected the Crown’s claim to exclusive sovereignty in making international treaties. Denying rangatiratanga excludes Māori from critical decisions about the causes and solutions to the climate crisis.
Professor Kelsey explained how the Crown’s approach to climate change in recent free trade agreements, which seek solutions through carbon markets, technology and “nature-based” solutions, and securing “critical minerals”, avoids addressing harmful practices that fuel the climate crisis. Despite token references to Indigenous Peoples in some agreements, Māori are denied a place to challenge this model and advance real solutions sourced in tikanga. Professor Kelsey also showed how investment agreements, that give foreign investors special protections can enforce through offshore tribunals, are being used to challenge climate change actions and demand billions of dollars in compensation.
Professor Kelsey recommended the Tribunal “to act as a Tiriti circuit-breaker on a reluctant Crown in terms of process, rangatiratanga, seat at the table of decisions including stressing the need to address those outstanding issues in the context of climate change both in the international climate sphere but also in the international trade and investment sphere as the impact on climate.”
Kaihautū hui at Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae
On April 1, Ngā Toki Whakarururanga held an in-person kaihautū hui at Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae. During the hui, participants reviewed the main goals Ngā Toki Whakarururanga has committed to over the next year including providing Te Tiriti based input and assessments of New Zealand trade negotiations, with priority to the India free trade agreement and the reviews of CPTPP and the Treaty of Waitangi Exception; the next steps in the relationship agreement with the Crown; actively holding the Crown to account using the Waitangi Tribunal Claim process; building awareness and support from Māori communities for our work in the trade space; and strengthening relations with other Māori rōpū working in the trade space.
As part of our ongoing capacity building, pūkenga Jane Kelsey also gave a presentation for the kaihautū on Aotearoa New Zealand’s process of international treaty making, critiques of the process and where Ngā Toki Whakarururanga fits in.
Proactive Approach to the India FTA
Ngā Kaihautū identified the new trade negotiations with India, following the Prime Minister’s visit there in March, as an opportunity for proactive engagement with India on matters of mutual importance. Priorities include traditional knowledge and Convention on Biological Diversity; ayurveda and rongoā; hua parakore, organics, seeds and GMOs; data sovereignty; generic medicines; creatives and culture. Ngā Toki Whakarururanga has written to MFAT and begun discussions with officials, and is reaching out to other Māori rōpū to explore ways to advance these kaupapa in the negotiations.
Papawhakaritorito Trust launch new pukapuka
We send our congratulations to Papawhakaritorito Trust for launching their new pukapuka Pātaka Kai: Growing Kai Sovereignty.
The book explores the realities of Māori and growers from Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa with indigenous knowledge and the diverse solutions needed to improve our food futures. The researchers show the connection between our biodiversity crisis and climate meltdown; our broken food systems; our seeds owned by global corporations; the impact of agricultural colonisation and the benefits that a return to Indigenous values and practices could deliver.
“By growing and eating kai from the māra, we are more resilient – physically, emotionally and spiritually. This process teaches us to notice the small things – the seeds, the soil, the birds and the insects,” says Dr Jessica Hutchings.
The book is a collaboration between Papawhakaritorito Trust founders Dr Jessica Hutchings (Ngā Toki Whakarururanga pūkenga) and Dr Jo Smith, kaupapa Māori visual artist Johnson Witehira and kairangahau Yvonne Taura. It is available on their website and in book stores.
Also, on March 29 the short film Seeds of Unity, directed by Libby Hakaraia,premiered at the Māoriland Film Festival. The film documents Papawhakartorito Trust’s recent visit to India with hua parakore growers from Papatūānuku marae and rongoā leader and Ngā Toki Whakarururanga kaihautū member Donna Kerridge, to present their Indigenous Declaration on Seed and Sovereignty to Dr. Vandana Shiva.
