Te Ururoa Flavell: Treaty-linked oaths a law problem

Recently released film The Dead Lands showcases te reo Maori which will be heard across the world. Photo / Supplied

Ehoa ma, Parliament has started up again, and we have all dived back into the work.

Being a minister is at another level altogether and my diary is fully committed with meetings.

I am still learning about the portfolios I have, but it is great being able to investigate the opportunities available.

One aspect of the start of Parliament is the oaths. In the past the Maori Party tried to add in a section to honour the Treaty of Waitangi but we did not have enough support.

My colleague, Marama Fox, stated that we are able to acknowledge God, acknowledge the Queen and her heirs, but when it comes to the Treaty of Waitangi, that's not possible.

Why is that? The reason is because that's the law. The words of the oath are enshrined in law so if someone wishes to change those words, it must be done by law, and that's the problem. We tried to do that but the Government would not support it.

It's great to hear the reviews about The Dead Lands, a new movie entirely in te reo. That's awesome. It looks as if our language will be heard across the world. There have been several movies about the Maori world in years gone by such as Once Were Warriors, Dark Horse, Boy, Whale Rider, Mt Zion and the nation has embraced them all. Perhaps this could be an opportunity for future employment for many of our people.

The Maori Party National annual meeting was held at Whangaehu Marae, Whanganui.

This is when we returned Tariana to her marae, and celebrated her and Pita's time as servants of the people. It is appropriate that we do that.

To finish, I have received many invitations to events as we head towards the end of the year. While I would love to attend everything, to all the functions, hui, and prizegivings, it is just not possible. However, we have three years, so I hope to get around to you all. I welcome your feedback. Email to mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz, or call (0508) 924 274.

Maori Translation

Tena ana tatou.

E hoa ma, kua timata ano te Whare Paremata a kua ruku hohonu nei matou ki nga mahi.

He ao ano to tetahi Minita, a kua kii katoa te rataka ki nga hui e hia ake nei. Kei te ako tonu au ki nga ahuatanga katoa o te tari o te Minita, a, he rawe tonu taku titiro ki nga huarahi katoa e taea ana te whai a te wa.

Ko tetahi ahuatanga o te timatanga mai o te Whare Paremata, ko te oati. I nga tau kua hipa i ngana nei matou a Paati Maori nei, te tapiri atu i tetahi korero mo te Tiriti o Waitangi, engari auare ake! I puta te korero o taku hoa haere o Marama Fox, me whakanui i te Atua, me whakanui i te Kuini me ana uri, engari ka tae atu ki te Tiriti o Waitangi, tee taea! He aha i pera ai?

Na, ko te mate ke, ko te ture! Ko nga kupu tonu o te oati kua whakaturehia, no reira mena e hiahia ana tetahi ki te whakature, me whakapanoni tonu i te ture!

Koia ra te raru. I ngana nei matou ki te whai i tera huarahi engari, kaore te Kawanatanga i tautoko.

Ka rawe tonu taku rongo mo The Dead Lands, tetahi whakaahua hou, he mea reo Maori tonu! Ka wani ke. Ko te ahua nei, ka rangona te reo Maori i te ao. Ara noa atu nga whakaahua e pa ana ki te ao Maori i nga tau kua hipa, ko Once Were Warriors, Dark Horse, Boy, Whale Rider, Mt Zion, a, kua rata mai te motu ki nga korero mo te ao Maori. Kei tenei momo ao pea etahi huarahi mo te hunga kimi mahi.

Ka tu te hui a tau o te Paati Maori i Whangaehu Marae i Whanganui o tera marama. Koia nei te wa whakahoki i a Tariana ki tona marae, otira he wa tonu ki te whakanui i a raua ko Pita me ona noho hei kaimahi mo te iwi. Me pera ka tika.

Hei whakakopani, e hia nei nga powhiri kua tae ake ki taku tari. Ahakoa kei te kii ake te ngakau kia haere atu ki nga hui, ki nga tono katoa, e hoa ma, e kore e taea, na te nui!

Heio ano, e toru nga tau kei mua ia a tatou, na reira ko te manako ia ka whakapa atu ki a koutou katoa.

• Te Ururoa Flavell is the co-leader of the Maori Party and the Minister of Maori Development.