Ngati Hine rebels with another cause   17 Mar 2015

17 March 2015

Ngati Hine rebels with another cause

On the eve of the one hundred and seventy fifth year since the sacking of Russell and the outbreak of war in the North, Ngati Hine is leading another rebellion and this time it’s against violence to families.

At Te Ahuareka o Ngati Hine last Saturday Chairman of Te Runanga o Ngati Hine Waihoroi Shortland among others signed the E Tu Whanau declaration on behalf of Ngati Hine. With the theme for this year's festival being Tane Atawhai Men who Nurture, the signing adds to the highlighting of the positive role men play in the community.

“We are putting a new spin on our tupuna Te Ruki Kawiti’s final edict to his people, “Takahia te riri ki raro i o waewae.” Today we are telling our own that as Ngati Hine we have to “trample violence beneath our feet.”

In signing the E Tu Whanau declaration at Otiria, Ngati Hine launched its no tolerance of violence campaign within whanau, and in particular to women, children and mokopuna.

“It is especially binding on men, there is no campaign without them being up front and centre and ready to bite the bullet,” says Mr. Shortland.

We will be using every tool at our disposal to drive this message home, it will be carried through our health trust, and our radio station. It will find its way into every school and classroom within the ambit of Ngati Hine and beyond.

In Kawiti’s time he charged Ngati Hine to protect the document he signed up to, namely Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will expect Ngati Hine will do no less with the E Tu Whanau Declaration.

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