First-of-its-kind hīkoi stops traffic

• Published date: 04 November 2021
• Publication title: Northland Age, The

A small group of people stopped traffic on Thursday as they made their way down Commerce St bearing the Māori Sovereign Kaara (flag).

The hīkoi started at KFC and ended at the Te Ahu Centre, coinciding with other He Whakaputanga events across the country.

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene — the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand was a document first signed at Waitangi on October 28, 1835 by 34 northern rangatira (chiefs).

The declaration received a further 18 signatures by 1839, including Te Hāpuku of Hawke’s Bay and Waikato leader and the first Māori King, Te Wherowhero.

Through He Whakaputanga, the 52 rangatira asserted that Aotearoa New Zealand was an independent Māori state, that power resided fully with Māori, and that foreigners would not be allowed to make laws.

It consisted of four articles — Mana Motuhake (self-determination), Tino Rangatiratanga (sovereignty), Mahi i ngā ture i roto i te Ngahuru (framing laws in dispensation of justice, peace, good order and trade) and Kaitiakitanga (friendship and protection of those settled in New Zealand and enduring protection from the King of England).

Bundy Waitai (Ngāti Kuri/Muriwhenua/Ngāpuhi) was...