Waitangi elders confront protesters

Press, 6 February 1982, Page 1

Waitangi elders confront protesters

PA Waitangi A confrontation between the local Maori, community and the Auckland-based Waitangi Action Committee erupted on the Waitangi national marae last evening when marae elders refused the protest group hospitality. The marae committee elders emphatically told 40 protest marchers that they were not welcome on the marae but the warning was ignored. The leader of the action committee, Mrs T. Harewira. brushed past a marae spokesman and marched into the grounds, calling her fellow marchers to follow. Twice fists were raised and an angry scene developed amid a barrage of abuse. The protesters were repeatedly ordered off the marae and were told, “there is no way you are going to re-enact the farce you perpetrated on this marae last year.” This was ignored and a ceremony of welcome was initiated by Mrs Harewira for her followers. An elder of the marae came forward and again told the protest group that they were not welcome, and could not be accommodated because the marae facilities were fully committed w’ith the 200-strong cultural party assembled for today’s cultural competitions, and later for the traditional Treaty of Waitangi observances on the treaty grounds. The crash entry to the marae grounds came at 4 p.m. and an hour later a stand-off existed between the marae committee and the protesters. The protesters were refusing to move from the grounds, saying it was their traditional right to be received on to a marae and accorded its hospitality. Mr T. Puriri, representing the trustees, again told the protesters they could not expect any hospitality. “I’ll tell you once again you are not welcome. If you stay here, we will ask the police to remove you. You have already discredited the canoe house today with your graffiti and there is no way we want people like you here.

“When you start behaving like human beings, then maybe you will be welcome again,” Mr Puriri said. He strongly attacked the European element in the protest group, saying they had no right to become involved.

A second crisis was reached when the police arrived on the marae after about 90 minutes of confrontation. Their arrival produced a howl of protest and

a barrage of insults from protesters. In an effort to cool matters. the police withdrew’ after spending 40 minutes in discussions with both the protesters and the marae committee.

The district officer of the Maori Affairs Department in Whangarei, Mr Tom Parore, and the senior Maori warden for Northland. Mrs Martha Moon, both spent time speaking with the protesters and asking them to leave. When heavy rain began about 6.30 p.m., local people moved to the shelter of the marae buildings while the protesters maintained a twohour vigil in the centre of the grounds. One by one the protesters moved to the shelter of the buildings’ porches and several of their march support vehicles were driven on to the marae grounds.

The chairman of the marae trustees, Mr Tupi Puriri, said later it was more than simply a question of the protesters not being welcome.

“There is simply no room in the inn,” he said.

The request was made by the protesters for accommodation at another local marae but this, too. was refused by the local elders.

It was a stalemate with the protesters camped out in vehicles and on the porches of the marea buildings and the cultural groups and local Maori people inside.

Heavy rain continued to fall through the night.

Early yesterday afternoon anti-treaty slogans were sprayed on public buildings at Paihia, on notice boards at the Waitangi treaty grounds and on the historic canoe house. It was the desecration at the canoe house which aroused the local Maori community as nearly 100 Maori paddlers for the canoe were being accommodated on the national marae when the protesters arrived.

Offshore, the nuejear protest yacht Pacific Peacemaker arrived about 3.15 p.m., adjacent to the treaty grounds after circling close to the Navy frigate Waikato on its way in.

It is planned to have a low key celebration this year. Both the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) have declined invitations to attend, pleading other engagements.

‘ The evening ceremony is ‘the only official function , scheduled, and the Minister of State (Mr Thomson) will * represent the Government, i The Governor-General (Sir ■ David Beattie) will also be ; present. The Waikato arrived in the Bay of Islands on Thursday for the anniversary. The Navy patrol boats Mako, Koura and Matamua were expected to join the Waikato in preparation for the sunset ceremony during the official treaty observance. Naval personnel, the combined Tai Tokerau Maori J cultural group, and a Northj land scouts contingent were • at the Treaty House grounds : yesterday morning in rehearsal for the annual ceremony.

The function will start at i 7.30 p.m. and will last for about 90 minutes. ! The only speakers will be ; Sir James Henare, repreI senting the Waitangi 1 National Trust, Mr Thomson ■ and the Governor General.

i The Catholic Metropolitan ! of New Zealand (Archbishop will lead the i prayers for the observance. : Embassy representatives ! from’ several nations are in- ; eluded in the guest list, while i the Government’s special ! guest this year will be the I First Sea Lord of the Royal ■ Navy (Admiral Sir Henry ■ Leach).