National Iwi Chairs Forum – Strengthening Rangatiratanga
By Māori-for-Māori, Rangatiratanga refers to the self-determination of Māori particularly in relation to social, economic, cultural, environmental, and political development. However, for many whānau, hapū and iwi, uncertainty surrounds the application of Rangatiratanga in today’s world.
Ahead of Waitangi Day this year, the National Iwi Chairs Forum hosted a hui for Māori across Aotearoa to participate in, with a goal of seeking a unified view of Rangatiratanga - Providing a Space for Kotahitanga. The hui aimed to not only solidify a joint understanding of Rangatiratanga, but to also come up with a plan to strengthen it across all of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Te Huia Bill Hamilton, Kaiwhakahaere, Pou Tikanga of the Iwi Chairs Forum group leading on this kaupapa said,
“Strengthening Rangatiratanga involves strengthening those values that are important to Māori: Manaaki, Kaitiaki, Tikanga, Reo, Kawa, Whānau and re-embedding them into the institutions that are part of who Māori are; whānau, hapū, Marae, Kōhanga, and Kura.
It is about developing institutions that assist in exercising Rangatiratanga, enabling those in power to replace for example current justice, health, housing, income, business institutions and practices. These institutions will help in creating a self-determining system going forward.”
Te Huia Bill Hamilton, Kaiwhakahaere, Pou Tikanga
Misunderstanding Rangatiratanga can bring about fears of separatism or division in those who are not familiar with the true meaning of it and the power it holds to help Māori and many other New Zealanders reach their full potential, and our full potential as a nation. The idea of Rangatiratanga is not something to be feared, rather it should be but celebrated, especially when given fair opportunity to be understood.
The Māori education system is a successful example of this. The restoration of kohanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori, and whare wānanga have led to exceptional outcomes for Māori learners. Since Ka Hikitia - an education initiative designed to improve Māori learning outcomes - was introduced in 2008, the percentage of students leaving school with less than NCEA Level 1 dropped across all students in Aotearoa. For Māori alone, that figure dropped from over 40 percent to under 30 percent, but is still too high.
“Revitalising Māori education has not meant closing down Pākehā schools but instead means offering an alternative approach which is designed from top-to-bottom by Māori, to serve Māori,” said Te Huia Bill Hamilton. “This system has shown us that by deploying a by Māori-for-Māori approach, better outcomes can be achieved for all New Zealanders. This is what occurs when Rangatiratanga is strengthened.”
Strengthened Rangatiratanga can bring about not only better outcomes for Māori across all indicators, but can also reinforce a beautiful, celebrated culture for all to enjoy. This is an opportunity to utilise culture and tradition to restore our unique taonga across language, environment, and tikanga.
The National Iwi Chairs Forum is currently setting in motion the steps needed to strengthen Rangatiratanga for Māori. Following the release of Dr Moana Jackson’s 2016 report, Matike Mai, which outlines a strategy based on discussions with more than 400 diverse groups from whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations.
The report suggested a model of “spheres of influence” which includes a Rangatiratanga Sphere where Māori make decisions for Māori, and a Kāwanatanga Sphere where the Crown will make decisions for its people.
Te Huia Bill Hamilton said that a relational sphere also exists where the two meet, and this is where Te Tiriti partnership operates.
“The expectation is that, in addition to a strong Rangatiratanga sphere, the partnership will apply at all levels and include the shaping of new legislation, policies and practices in those areas that affect whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations.”
National Iwi Chairs forum held the first-ever Māori Constitutional Convention in the week leading into Waitangi Day with the goal to develop a strategy and plan to unite and strengthen Rangatiratanga. They sought an agreed understanding of Kotahitanga (unity) within the Rangatiratanga Sphere and ways to unite as one to strengthen Rangatiratanga to achieve their national goals.
The National Iwi Chairs Forum’s work doesn’t stop with Rangatiratanga - their goals stretch out to health, environment, security, and wellbeing of whānau. They’re currently developing out an agreed vision for Aotearoa in 2040 in consultation with Māori and others across the country, and many of the key themes are the same – caring for our environment, a good standard of living, honouring Te Tiriti, social justice and whānau achieving our potential.
He aha te mea nui o te ao? Nga Atua, Te Whenua, He tangata, aue!
What is the most important thing in the world? It is our beliefs and values, the land and people.
To learn more about the National Iwi Chairs incredible kaupapa and mahi, head to iwichairs.maori.nz