Ihumātao: A Call For Justice / Eugene Fuimaono
Ihumātao is a sign to me of God working in our nation, regardless of whether their were Christian hand’s in it or not.
Almost every Sunday a small cohort of friends and I (sometimes with some beautiful souls in addition) would organize (or wing ) a day of whakamoemiti (praise) to Ihowa (God, yes the Jewish one). There were so many beautiful people that contributed to these days, but in all honesty there were multitudes more that did not. It spoke volumes to me when I heard feedback from Christians telling one of his friends to be careful and make sure he’s on the right side of history. When many a church youth group would want to come to the whenua but then be cautioned by pastors that it could spell trouble for them.
To be fair, it was downright appalling. I feel like many Christians have forgotten the face of God. We the powerful have forgotten how to work for the God who in all instances sides with the poor and the victim. Instead of assisting the oppressed and downtrodden, the meek and humble, a real justice cause, we went to our Sunday church services and decided to just ignore injustice at Ihumātao. Some of us, in fact, openly spoke against Ihumātao and justice for māori - joining Duncan Garner in his incredibly selfish and unloving, unchristian kōrero.
It seems we are for things only if they’re kiwi, not if they’re māori.
Turns out, 200 years on, injustice is still a swear word when it doesn’t serve the “kiwi” way.
Think about the treaty of waitangi and what it stands for. It is a document that literally allowed not just pākeha, but all peoples under the jurisdiction of the crown (the physical and spiritual sovereign) to find a home here. The original intent being a co-habitation of two sovereign nations living hand in hand toward the future. It is a document founded under the spiritual premise that Ihowa would enact Justice. Should that Justice not be upheld with the underpinning support of the collective churches. So where are we church? Are we even remotely trying to uphold our God breathed responsibility to this nation? No. Therefore the treaty makes hypocrites out of us. It holds us to a standard we simply don’t want to acknowledge. I bet Aotearoa would view us in a much better light if we turned up and did what is required of us.
If we fought for the oppressed, brought resources to the poor, healed the broken hearted. It's simple, right?
When I see Taika talk about indigenous people, and hongi his friends, and use the word mauriora to sign off on the world stage, I feel pride in being from Aotearoa, and in being māori. White kiwi NZ goes “He’s famous and doing well, lets label him a kiwi!”. On the flip side, Renae Maihi is being taken to court by racist bigot Sir Bob Jones and the media label her māori.
When I see Pania and the whānau at ihumātao finally get a win, with Fletchers and government giving in (regardless of their enormous payout) to the justice calls of the people and the land, I feel proud to be part of this nation. On the flip side, Duncan Garner’s opinions reflect what seem to be a large number of kiwi’s and how the annoying protestors should never have been listened to.
Where were christians when Renae was getting publicly attacked by power. Where were christians when Pania was defamed and shamed by power.
Too many times I hear people mumble under their breath, “at least we’re not as bad as x”. When I look at the atrocious actions of Americans, Australians, and Canadians to their indigenous (other similar western examples) I'm forced to agree, sure we’re not as bad as them.
But, why not go one step further? Why not be way better than them? Why not show them how a treaty can be settled well, and how partnership with indigenous people should look?
If the 38.6% of the population of Aotearoa that profess christianity actually stood together to change this narrative - it would change.
The general fear mongering states that Ihumātao is just the start. The Labour government should never have given in, and now the floodgates are opened because of their foolishness.
Yet, the way I see it, it is God - not Labour - who is finally - after 200 years - opening the floodgates for justice to flow out of. And it is our responsibility to allow ourselves to be good vessels, allowing ourselves to be filled with the Justice of Ihowa.
To end, Duncan Garner states that there are two sides to this. Winners and Losers. I’d want to rephrase that.
There are two sides to this. Those who stand for Justice, and those who oppose it.
What side do we stand?
Are we for Justice?
Or are we against it?
Eugene Fuimaono is of ngā puhi, Samoan and Dutch descent. He's an ex-youth worker/pastor, always musician, consummate student and recently protestor. His favorite thing to do is read comments sections on stuff posts.