July 12, 2021
Women’s ancient roles to fore for tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal is delving deep into the past this week as it lays the foundation for its report on the Mana Wahine Claim.
The tribunal is at Terenga Paraoa Marae in Whangārei for the third week of hearings on the kaupapa claim, which will attempt to address structural discrimination against Māori women.
Huhana Lyndon, who will give evidence at a later hearing on discrimination in local government, says while 1840 is seen as the starting point for claims, the tribunal is offering a takapau whāriki – the mat in whare hui which is a place for talk on issues that are not normally presented.
"If we go to 1840 we are definitely focused on the breaches to the crown, but the tribunal sought to stretch back, let's look at pre-treaty, our pre-history before colonisation, our traditions, our tikanga, our stories of yesteryear and of old ngā korero nehe as the basis or the foundation to then talk about the breaches," she says.
Ms Lyndon says there's a full house for the hui, with people keen to hear from experts like Dr Ella Henry, Paparangi Reid and Titewhai Harawira about the role of women in pre-European society.
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