Waipa Maori Ward support in Cambridge
The last two Te Awamutu publications have included letters on the endangered Māori ward seat in local government; one perspective in favour and another against. I believe it is also important to add a Christian perspective to this conversation because of the role the Church has played in Māori-Pakeha relations in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Samuel Pullenger
The Anglican Church played an important role in Te Tiriti O Waitangi, being involved in translation and in encouraging Māori to sign, with the hope that Māori would receive protection for their culture, customs and way of life. As we know, though, Te Tiriti has been used and misused by the crown to take land and marginalise Māori in their own land since its signing in 1840. The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, therefore, is committed to Māori-Pakeha relations and, specifically, to upholding Te Tiriti principles, seeking reconciliation and puretumu (redress). However, many in New Zealand have asked, why is the Church involving themselves in politics? Even going as far as David Seymour stating, “Get back to God.”
Unsurprisingly, the answer to Seymour is this is the work of God. To care for the value, dignity and voice of those marginalised in our communities is the most fundamental work of those who follow Jesus. One of my favourite things that we see as we look at the life of Jesus is that he always takes the time to speak to those who are marginalised by the community. Further, Jesus asks a, seemingly, strange question, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18:35-43). It is strange because for the blind person who has approached Jesus, it should be obvious. However, what this question does is it gives voice and value to the one who has been marginalised for so long. Jesus’ conversation, in the middle of a crowd of onlookers, enables the one who usually does not have a voice to be seen and heard.
Each and every person has a voice and it is important that we listen to it, this is the purpose of our democratic system of government in Aotearoa. However, the Māori voice has historically been under-represented and under-valued, especially in our local government contexts.
It is the role of the Church to come alongside those whose voices have been marginalised and seek to ask, “What do you need?” Not because we have power or authority in and of ourselves, but because this is the way of Jesus. So, as Maria Low suggested, “maybe the real question is: why wouldn’t we want that voice included?” When we do not ask, “What do tangata whenua need?” we miss the opportunity, not only to gain a diversity of wisdom and knowledge that will complement and enhance Pakeha life as well, but we miss the opportunity to continue to bridge the divide caused by the colonisation of Aotearoa.
As we look to this election cycle and vote on the Māori Ward seat for this district I encourage us to vote for the voice of Māori in our local government.
Waipa Maori ward candidates Dale-Maree Morgan, left, and Yvonne Waho, extreme right show their support with others in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
