Groundwork: Facilitating Change

Submitting on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill    If you haven’t yet made a submission on the Treaty Principles Bill, we’re sharing some useful resources to help you.     Carwyn Jones has outlined the next stages of the Bill and the importance of making a submission in this article (https://lnkd.in/g-aWfNGP). As he says, it’s critical to make a submission on the Bill as:  - the new principles (proposed by the bill) would effectively erase the recognition of tino rangatiratanga and remove the primary mechanism by which government provides for Indigenous rights here in Aotearoa.  - strong and visible opposition to the bill is needed so that it is clear to politicians that there is no political advantage in progressing it.    We’d add that it’s an important opportunity to let the government know why you support Te Tiriti being honoured, and to state your opposition to the multiple actions of the government to undermine Te Tiriti, including the process of reviewing Treaty principles in 28 pieces of legislation. This recent post by Dr Luke Fitzmaurice-Brown (https://lnkd.in/g6D_b6sK) provides a useful summary of some of these issues.     Making a submission:  - Anyone can make a submission on the bill. There is no required form of submission, and they do not need to be long or detailed. This E-tangata article includes a few examples: https://lnkd.in/gZ-XixjW - Together for Te Tiriti has useful resources for making submissions: https://lnkd.in/ggyQumE5  - Our Treaty Principles Explainer also contains key ideas: https://lnkd.in/g92RYjTM When to make a submission:  Submissions must be to the Justice Select Committee by 7 January. You can make your submission here: https://lnkd.in/gqM7JJ_8

Currently tuned in to the Allen + Clarke Toitū te Tiriti Webinar, delivered by two incredible wāhine toa Kathie Irwin PhD, MNZM, MInstD and Jen Margaret. Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and creating Treaty Literacy/ Strategy in organisations has never been more important. Incredibly proud to hear this kōrero being shared to so many organisations across Aotearoa.

Te Tiriti conversations – how to talk to friends, whānau and workmates about Te Tiriti and the principles of the Treaty.    🚩 Submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill are open until 7 January 2025.    At this time there are many of us looking to engage in conversations with those around us about the importance of Te Tiriti and how this foundational agreement can guide a just and flourishing Aotearoa. And to encourage more people to make submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill.    We’ve created this guide to support these conversations. It includes a step-by-step guide to navigate tricky conversations, and scripts you can use and adapt to grow understanding of Te Tiriti and answer specific questions about the principles of the Treaty.    Access the resource here: https://lnkd.in/g7yC8gx3    For more information about submissions: https://lnkd.in/gMF5wgin 

MPS – do you believe in a fair and just Aotearoa?    After witnessing such a momentous show of kotahitanga and solidarity throughout Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti – our focus now shifts to maintaining that momentum and ensuring our elected members of parliament honour the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders calling for Te Tiriti honouring action.    When making a submission on the Treaty Principles Bill (TPB), we encourage you to request to make an oral submission. If you haven’t done an oral submission before and want to see what it’s like, here’s a clip from a recent submission Jen made to the Justice Select Committee (who will be hearing TPB submissions).     In it, Jen calls on our MPs to reflect on their values and to act with their current and future constituents in mind – voting against injustice and standing instead for a flourishing, Te Tiriti honouring Aotearoa.    Read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/gXWJXdda 

Toitū Te Tiriti: Staying the course of Te Tiriti honouring    Online event: Thursday 28th November, 12pm.    Next week, Jaqui Taituha Ngawaka and Allen + Clarke will be hosting Jen Margaret and Kathie Irwin PhD, MNZM, MInstD, who will address a key focus of many organisations at this time – how can we strengthen our work to honour Te Tiriti in these times?   Tune in to hear key learnings and practical tips shared by Kathie and Jen, based on their collective expertise and experience working with hundreds of organisations across Aotearoa to develop and strengthen their commitment to Te Tiriti.

📣 For just over a week, thousands of tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti have been joining the Toitū Te Tiriti hikoi to show their support for Te Tiriti. Tomorrow, the hīkoi arrives in Te Whanganui a Tara.     The day begins at Waitangi Park at 9am with a march to parliament in the morning before returning to Waitangi Park for a concert in the afternoon.     For details of timing see: https://lnkd.in/gVBK8fbE    To learn more about Te Kahu o te Raukura – the cloak of aroha, peace and honour laid out by mana whenua – and general advice for Tangata Tiriti planning to attend, see this link: https://lnkd.in/gy3rTWB8    Hei āpōpō e hoa mā. 

New blog: MPs, do you respect the rule of the law?    As we show support for Te Tiriti through the Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi throughout Aotearoa, Jen reflects on her recent submission to the Justice Select Committee on the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Amendment Bill and the Foreshore and Seabed hīkoi of 2004.    In doing so, she asks these important questions of the members of parliament who are considering this bill:  Are you here to serve the country?   Do you respect the rule of law?   Do you believe in access to justice?   Do you believe in honouring commitments?   Do you believe in maintaining the integrity of government through honouring our constitutional arrangements?   Do you believe in a fair, harmonious and equitable Aotearoa?   Do you believe in respectful relationships?    Reminding them: "The people we work with every day from all walks of life want a flourishing and equitable Te Tiriti honouring country. So, stop this bill and your other actions to undermine Te Tiriti, attack Māori and harm us all. Instead, act for both the present and future generations and in alignment with the vision of Te Tiriti for enduring peaceful relationships of mutual benefit."    Read the full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/gXWJXdda

Explore the work required by tangata Tiriti to engage effectively in action to honour Te Tiriti.    If you have completed our workshops in the past and are interested in building tangata Tiriti support and capability in your organisation, then book for our newly released stage 3 workshop: Haumi | Allies    What’s covered? The workshop is based on Jen Margaret’s extensive work in tangata tiriti haumi | allyship work and includes content and activities in relation to: - Haumi | Allies role and responsibilities  - Challenges and responses  - Individual and collective action 

Last week, the Waitangi Tribunal released their followup up report: Ngā Mātāpono/The Principles: Part II, in response to the first reading date of the Treaty Principles Bill being brought forward. Key findings from the report: - Tribunal found the Crown’s process to develop the Bill has purposefully excluded any consultation with Māori, breaching the principle of partnership, the Crown’s good-faith obligations, and the Crown’s duty to actively protect Māori rights and interests.  - The proposed content of the Bill does not reflect the texts or meaning of the Treaty/te Tiriti.  - The Tribunal found that these breaches caused significant prejudice to Māori. The Tribunal found that Māori would be particularly prejudiced by the extinguishment of tino rangatiratanga in a legal sense if the Bill were to be enacted.  - The Tribunal confirmed its previous recommendation that the Bill be abandoned. You can read the tribunal findings here: https://lnkd.in/ghUBWc_N To take part in peaceful actions happening throughout Aotearoa in support of honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, you can find more information here: https://lnkd.in/gm7Bx2f5 

HĪKOI MŌ TE TIRITI – NEXT WEEK    Nau mai, haere mai ki te hīkoi. Next week, thousands of people will joining the hīkoi from Te Rerenga Wairua to Te Whanganui-a-Tara in an action of kotahitanga with a clear message: Toitū te Tiriti.     Tangata whenua have put out this call for nationwide action and this is your chance to make a show of support for Te Tiriti and for a unified Aotearoa where we honour our relationship commitments.    Check out the post below for more information of organised events in your area. If you are Pōneke based, or want to support from afar, visit https://lnkd.in/gm7Bx2f5 (and you can follow them on Facebook or Insta)