The ‘spiritual importance’

Press, 3 February 1984, Page 17

The ‘spiritual importance’

Mr Hohua Tutangaehe, another leading figure in the local Maori community, would probably have good reason to feel bitter about the treaty of Waitangi. His people, who are from Tauranga, did not sign it, and then had their land confiscated because they were “rebels” during the Maori wars.

They fought, through the courts this time, from 1866 to 1979 for the return of their land. In 1979, they were given $250,000 in compensation.

Mr Tutangaehe explains that for his people the loss of the land was “unthinkable.” It was their livelihood, but it was much more than that.

“It is the land that affects the Maori. Whenua is the placenta of the mother earth and without

whenua we are a taurekareka, or the result of a passing sexual relationship, and we become a nothing. For the older Maori to have no land to relate to the mother earth is unthinkable,” he

says. For his old people, the modest settlement also meant that the slur of the “rebel” label was lifted from their forbears. He cites the comment of one of his relatives made at the time of the settlement: “Consider South Africa. Consider the situation in South Africa, then perhaps better to accept a dry half a loaf of bread than none at all.”

Mr Tutangaehe still believes in the treaty. He sees it as a “document of its times,” which may not be perfect, but which has spiritual

importance. “One of the key things to the old people is its spiritual totality, incorporating nature and the completeness of life because everything is interwoven in the treaty. It was a gentlemen’s document of agreement,” he says. What everyone is after is spiritual acceptance of the treaty and recognition of its importance in bringing two peoples together. He believes it should be given greater mana. Although he says the Government is still “dodging” the issue, he adds that progress has been made. Maoris are getting some of their land back and “Government is listening.” He pays tribute to both the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, for putting Maori people

into key positions, and to the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Couch, for following that move up “in a Maori way.” Mr Tutangaehe’s people accepted the law and worked through the courts.

“I prefer that our people stay within the law and take their grievances with dignity. I think we are the luckiest of the pigmented people on earth. When I visit other countries and see their lot, I am glad we are under the British and not America or France, or even Australia.”

He applies the same thinking to the Waitangi Day protesters, adding that our history, whether it be good or bad, is our history and we should accept it.