Strengthening Our Collective Voice – Hui ā Motu to Hui ā Rohe

Under the call and guidance of Kiingi Tūheitia, iwi from across the motu gathered at Tūrangawaewae in January 2024, answering the call for kotahitanga.

What began as an ambitious, yet necessary movement has gained momentum, carrying vital kōrero through hui across Kahungunu and beyond, leading to our most recent Hui ā-Rohe.

Over the past 14 months, iwi leaders have gathered at hui across the motu, including Waitangi Day celebrations in Waitangi and National Iwi Chairs forums, to share their views and solutions in response to the government's continuous attacks on Māori.

The introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill was another key catalyst, sparking the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti in November 2024, where tens of thousands of Māori and supporters took to the streets of Pōneke in demonstration.

While not all hui have reached consensus, one message remains clear—Māori will not stand by and do nothing. However, determining the best course of action remains a challenge.

Following these hui, a working group, Te Amorangi ki Mua, was established, including our CE, Helmut Modlik, to advance the kaupapa of kotahitanga.

Earlier this year, at Ōmahu Marae, the working group presented the paper and model, Te Whare o te Rangatiratanga, addressing critical issues. The directive was clear: return to your people, engage with iwi leaders within your rohe, socialise Te Whare o te Rangatiratanga, and collaborate on the issues that matter most.

In response, the Rūnanga took the lead and recently invited iwi leaders from Horowhenua, to Wairarapa, across to Te Tau Ihu together to hui and discuss how we can unite on key kaupapa and establish mechanisms for collective action.

The hui commenced with a presentation on Emergency preparedness, a kaupapa that we all agreed was a natural area for collaboration.

We then discussed the potential for a formal agreement that would offer a framework for addressing shared kaupapa as they emerge.

As a result, a working group has been formed, with hui scheduled in the near future.

We will keep iwi members updated as these hui progress and anticipate opportunities for whānau to share their views and kōrero along the way.

At some point in the future, we expect to come together to consolidate our collective vision, as we did under the leadership and call of Kiingi Tūheitia.