Te Ururoa Flavell: Te Matatini participants do us all proud

It is unbelievable the tactics being used to challenge the Government on the use of 1080.

Greetings everyone. Let me start by congratulating everyone who participated in Te Matatini.

I'm referring to the performers, supporters, partners, children, the seamstresses, the fundraisers who all contributed to preparing our groups to stand at Te Matatini. Our local groups were absolutely tremendous, as was the hospitality shown by the South Island.

We should take immense pride in all of our groups from home. They represented us superbly, and I wish to congratulate them all.

One of the great things about attending Te Matatini is that you get to hear about the many issues of the Maori world, for better or worse, being expressed in haka, poi and song. I have personally been derided but also celebrated in some of the items.

This is perhaps why I was shocked at Maori Television who initially removed footage from their website of a haka which criticised Maori Television. I can imagine that they did not appreciate the criticism but that is what Te Matatini is all about.

Just recently, the Prime Minister issued a warning about the threat of 1080 poison in infant formula. I find it unbelievable that someone might actually follow through on this and be responsible for the death of a baby or infant.

Why would someone do such a thing? They say that they are challenging the Government to stop using 1080. This is an important issue but I am hugely shocked at the tactics used. The police are investigating the case so I'll leave the issue there.

Maori Translation

Ko au tetahi kua rongo nei i te ngau o te kupu o te haka, kua rongo ano hoki au i te kupu whakamihi. Ko au tetahi kua rongo nei i te ngau o te kupu o te haka, kua rongo ano hoki au i te kupu whakamihi.

Tena ano tatou katoa. Me whai wahi au i te tuatahi ki te mihi ki te hunga i tautoko nei i Te Matatini.

Ko te hunga e korerohia ana ko nga kaihaka, ko nga kaitautoko, a hoa rangatira, a tamariki, a hunga tuitui, hunga kohi moni kia taea ai e nga kaihaka te tu i te papa tuwaewae. He miharo rawa te tu o nga kapa o te kainga i Te Matatini, he rawe ano hoki te manaaki mai o Te Waipounamu whanui i te manuhiri i eke ki O-Tautahi.

Me tu whakahihi a Te Arawa na te tu o nga kapa haka o te kainga. Ko te tu, he tu Te Arawa na, he tu rangatira, ka nui te mihi.

Ko tetahi o nga painga o te noho i Te Matatini, ko te rongo mo nga take huhua o te Ao Maori pai mai, kino mai, i roto i nga haka, nga poi, nga waiata. Ko au tetahi kua rongo nei i te ngau o te kupu o te haka, kua rongo ano hoki au i te kupu whakamihi. Koia nei au i ohorere ki te mahi a Whakaata Maori, me ta ratou ukui i te haka i wero nei i a Pouaka Whakaata Maori i te ipurangi. Tera pea, kaore Whakaata Maori i rata ki te ngako o te korero, engari koia na te kaupapa o Te Matatini.

No te wiki kua hipa, i puta te whakatupato a te Pirimia ki te motu mo te mahi nanakia a tetahi. Ko te mahi nanakia e korerotia ana ko te panui mai a te Pirimia, i te whakaaro ake tetahi ki te tuku paihana (1080) ki nga paura miraka ma nga pepi! Katahi te whakaaro rorirori ko tera! Mena ka whakatinanahia tenei whakaaro, ko nga pepi ko nga nohinohi te hunga ka rongo i te mate!!

He aha te hiahia o tenei nanakia? He aki i te Kawanatanga ki te whakamutu i te ruirui o te 1080 ki te whenua! Ae he take nui tenei, engari kaore au i te paku rata ki te huarahi e whai haeretia ana e te hunga whakahe i te 1080.

Heoi ano, kei te whaia te take nei e te Pirihimana no reira, me waiho te take ki a ratou.

I welcome your feedback.

Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz or phone 0508 924274

- Te Ururoa Flavell is the Waiariki MP and the co-leader of the Maori Party.