Hikoi marchers' jobs and studies sidelined by passion

By RENEE KIRIONA and AINSLEY THOMSON with the hikoi

Hone Ngata has no regrets about giving up his fulltime job to join the hikoi against the foreshore and seabed legislation.

On Thursday, the 32-year-old Tauranga man resigned as the youth health advocate for the Tauranga District Health Board after being advised to choose between his job or a march to Wellington.

"We were basically told that if you worked for a Government department or a group affiliated to them you had a choice between your job or the hikoi - and I had no hesitation in putting my walking shoes on."

On his final day at work Mr Ngata loaded his 6-year-old son, partner and two other family members into his BMW and headed for Rotorua to join the convoy.

"I'm doing this for my father and my son. If Dad was alive he would be here today.

"As far as I'm concerned our elders will not be here for long, so as a young Maori I have a responsibility to learn about the issues now."

While Mr Ngata is unsure whether Prime Minister Helen Clark will listen seriously to what the hikoi marchers have to say, he is certain about what will happen if she does not.

"There will be a lot of fighting."

Other marchers have also made sacrifices.

Despite having a Waikato University assignment due on Friday, 23-year-old Bachelor of Arts student Michael Ritete, of Taupo, chose to miss his deadline and join the hikoi.

Even a serious concussion that landed Mr Ritete in Waikato Hospital for two weeks could not stop him.

"The doctor told me I should not endure any physical or mental activity for another month.

"He also said I shouldn't travel long-distance but this issue is too important to miss and if it means me getting a zero mark or another migraine, then so be it."

As a young man in 1975, Geoff Mariu followed Dame Whina Cooper and took part in the Maori Land March from the Far North to Parliament.

Nearly 30 years later, and with two of his mokopuna (grandchildren) beside him, the radio station manager from Upokongaro, a small settlement east of Wanganui, has joined the hikoi.

Mr Mariu wants his mokopuna to look back in years to come and know they were part of the 2004 hikoi.

A need to look after future generations is a sentiment common to marchers, but the hikoi means time away from work and families.

Sharon Morunga, a tutor in post-graduate nursing studies in Wellington, grabbed the chance to march yesterday after missing the early stages of the hikoi because of work commitments.

"I missed out on the 1975 march so I wasn't going to miss out on this one."

At each stop along the route to Parliament more people are joining, but some have been on the hikoi since the beginning.

The long journey has given former soldier Marsh Kanapu, from Kaikohe, time to think about the issue. He believes the Government cannot take what does not belong to it in the first place.

Laurayno Ngawhika, of Rotorua, has put up with a few discomforts. For the past four nights the Maori language tutor, her five children (aged from 2 to 10) and her partner have slept in their van.

"My husband and I felt this was the biggest land grab Maori have ever suffered in this country and was too big to miss.

"We've also brought our kids along because they will learn from this. People say they should be at school but the best kind of learning is hands-on experience."

The family are spending $25 a day for petrol and the odd goodie for the children along the way.

Meat factory worker Wayne Marumaru, of Taranaki, felt so strongly he took five days' annual leave to be on the hikoi.

"I can't remember the last time I took annual leave. I work six days a week and sometimes up to 70 hours a week, but my wairua [spirit] told me I should be here."