Respected Māori lawyer Moana Jackson has died after a long illness.
Respected Māori lawyer Moana Jackson has died after battling a long-term illness, the Herald understands.
His death comes after a record of fierce advocacy for Māori and reforming the criminal justice system and dismantling racist structures.
Jackson (Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine), navigated both worlds of te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā, bringing with him immense knowledge to overthrow the negative impacts of colonisation.
This tweet had been pulled up again by the twitter community over the past day or so, and this morning we learnt of Moana Jackson's passing. Utter grief, such a loss. Can't begin to have the right kupu yet - Moe mai ra Moana xxxxx https://t.co/ZBkC9xNGDA
— Marama Davidson MP (@MaramaDavidson) March 30, 2022
He was also an author and lecturer who specialised in the Treaty of Waitangi and constitutional issues.
He graduated in law and criminology at Victoria University of Wellington, then later taught te reo Māori.
He went on to further his studies in the United States before returning to New Zealand to conduct research for the then Justice Department report on the Māori and the criminal justice system, He Whaipaanga Hou.
He contributed a lot of his training and work towards international indigenous issues, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
He was a judge on the International Tribunal of Indigenous Rights in Hawaii in 1993, and again in Canada in 1995.
Jackson was recognised as a respected vocal critic for Māori issues, particularly during the time of the government's foreshore and seabed legislation in 2004.
He was also vocal towards the October 2007 police "terror" raids. He resigned as patron of the Police Recruit Wing 244 due to his opposition to how the raids were conducted which he said stemmed from racism.
Māori communities and Māori leaders across New Zealand describe Jackson's death as a "huge loss".
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson has paid tribute, just days after the Labour Minister's mum Dame June Jackson passed away.
"Uncle Moana was just so articulate and I never ever saw him raise his voice to anyone," Jackson told the Herald.
"Uncle could dismantle any argument. He was one of the most brilliant minds I have ever known. I saw him dismantle Gerry Brownlee once."
Jackson was described as similar to his brother Syd Jackson, a prominent Māori activist and trade unionist of the 1980s and 1990s.
"Uncle Moana was a man who always waited to be called on and was never one to jump in front of the limelight," Willie Jackson said.
The past fortnight has been tough for Jackson with the death of close friend Wira Gardiner, his mother and now his uncle.
"I was proud to have an uncle held in such high esteem and had such a brilliant mind," Jackson said.
A great Rangatira has fallen, Moana Jackson a man of mana and someone who gave me sage advice over the years. I'm gonna miss you matua. Thank you for all for all you did for us
— Huhana Hickey PhD (@huhanahickey) March 30, 2022
Māori community leader John Tamihere said Moana Jackson was a man of high standards and principles.
"Moana's contribution must be looked at in terms of him and his brother Syd.
"Syd advanced our rights, similar to a Malcolm X. Whereas Moana, rather than get drawn into the contest of personalities that Syd enjoyed, Moana continued to always keep focused on the contest of ideas and not get sidetracked.
"Moana Jackson was always a gentleman, always rational, always thoughtful always respectful but at no time did he ever sway or become deterred by what others were advocating.
"I liken Moana Jackson to the contribution that Professor Sir Mason Durie makes. They rationalise issues in a very reasoned way.
"But they have the ability to tell someone to go to hell, in such a way that person will buy the ticket."
@TheHuiNZ @moanatribe
— Shane te Pou (@PouTepou) March 30, 2022
Moana Jackson is of the ages . Our people of Waimana have the honour of having him for the night before he goes back to his people .
Haere, haere, oki oki atu ra, e moe!