Protesters abuse Mr Muldoon

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 1

Protesters abuse Mr Muldoon

NZPA staff reporter Rotorua Maori activists plunged the traditionally dignified South Pacific Forum' into a tense start at Rotorua yesterday when a small band of protesters heaped insults on the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon). Maoris at the marae welcome and church service, where the protest occurred, were angrily divided. Repel ling a young woman demonstrator from the marae “courtyard,", a Te Arawa tribal priest, Irirangi Tiakkiawa, ended up wielding a challenge spear in a-tussle with her. Leaders from 11 Pacific nations filed stoney faced behind Mr Muldoon while he was abused. He was called a liar and a racist, and other leaders were told not to listen to him because he did not represent the Maori people. Led by two Waitangi Action Committee members, Rebecca Evans and Titewhai Harawira, about 20 bannercarrying Maoris harangued the forum representatives for about two hours. While the leaders were inside a meeting house on the Tamatekapua marae, and later St Faith's Anglican Church, what Mr Muldoon described as “chirping” came from outside.

As they walked the 100 metres between the two buildings the visiting leaders heard Mr Muldoon reviled by the shouting protesters - whose causes ranged from a lack of Maori representation at the thirteenth forum to justice, land rights, and nuclear testing. The former Anglican Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt. Rev. Manu Bennett, said in the church sermon that it was one of the greatest of pleasurable experiences for (he Maori to be able to host agreeable guests.

"Let us rejoice in it in spite of other things that are happening," the retired bishop said, in reference to the noise outside. He also told the forum representatives: “I think that New Zealand still has one of the best records for race relations in the world . . .

although you wouldn’t believe it today.”

While the leaders were inside the meeting house being welcomed, a small number of Maori people outside argued loudly. One woman told the protesters: “You’re nasty people. Go back where you came from.”

Mr Tiakiawa stopped a woman demonstrator from moving on to what he said was the marae courtyard. He forced her back with the taiaha, -a ceremonial spear, and she resisted, ending up sitting on the ground. Some of the banners greeting the forum representatives said "Stick your forum — Maoris want justice,” “Nuclear-free Pacific," and “Stop Pacific wasting away — stop nuclear games.” The police played a conciliatory role during the heated exchanges; making no arrest.

Mr Tiakiawa said he did not mind the protests being made but they were “cutting across protocol” and' so he had acted to remove the woman.

He was to have performed the traditional challenge to Mr Muldoon but instead tribal, elders said, the task should go to Temuera Morrison — a relative of the entertainer, Howard Morrison.

“If I had handled the challenge myself I might have hit some of the protesters who were in turn challenging me,” Mr Tiakiawa said. In his sermon. Bishop Bennett articulated some concerns of Maori people.