Speech to Tipu Ora Charitable Trust, Private Training Establishment Friday 2 December 2005
Te Ururoa Flavell, Member of Parliament for Waiariki
I am really pleased to return to Houmaitawhiti after my first ten weeks in Parliament, to celebrate the graduation of
you students, with your families, and tutors today.
It is very special for me having taught on the course for one small part. It was only a small component in time but from
my view, a very special component. A section on Te Tiriti o Waitangi from my perspective is crucial for all Maori who
will work with our people, but let me talk of that later.
I feel very comfortable here just because the name Houmaitawhiti, the father of Tamatekapua, the commander of Te Arawa
waka, ties me here.
Houmaitawhiti, nana ko Tamatekapua, nana ko Kahumatamomoe, nana ko Tawakemoetahanga nana ko Uenukumaiirarotonga, nana ko
Rangitihi Ka moe a Rangitihi i a Papawharanui ka puta ko Tuhourangi Ka moe a Tuhourangi i a Rongomaipapa ka puta ko
Uenukukopako Na Uenukukopako, ka puta ko Whakauekaipapa Ka moe a Whakauekaipapa i a Rangiuru ka puta te mataamua Ko
Tawakeheimoa. Ka moe i a Te Aongahoro, ka puta ko Rangiwewehi. Ko au tetahi o nga uri.
Now me giving you my link to this tupuna whare is quite good for me, and makes me feel good, but I am not sure about
anyone else!
The point I would like to make, however, is something I learnt on the recent election trial. My Campaign Manager, Mr Pem
Bird, from Hohis area in Ngati Manawa, always referred to things having a whakapapa. The "whakapapa" that he spoke of
was not the "whakapapa" that we talk about as "a family tree", but the reference was more to say that all things have a
beginning, a source, a reason for being.
So while I have an actual genealogical link here, I am linked here because I have taught on this course on a number of
occasions. Also, it is here that we had our first effort to call the electorate of Waiariki together to discuss the
development of the Maori Party. I am here now as a Member of Parliament so we must have got something right!
The notion of whakapapa should make us never forget those who have passed on, kua huri ki tua o te pae, those who left
things for this generation to take to the next level. That's where all of you graduands fit.
We should not forget also key events, the whakapapa of events. Houmaitawhiti's son Tamatekapua, as some might know, was
a ladies man, or so he thought. As Te Arawa travelled on its way across from Hawaiki, he chose to make a move on the
partner of his tohunga Ngatoroirangi. Ngatoroirangi, finding out about this, created what we call "Te Korokoro o Te
Parata", a whirlpool to punish Tamatekapua. Hearing the tangi from the people as they fell from the waka and fearing
death, Ngatoroirangi relented and allowed the waka to come out of the whirlpool and continue on its way.
I suspect as you have done your assignments while trying to stay in work, that you may have felt like my tupuna felt in
Te Korokoro o Te Parata. Well today we do not have to worry for now at least, because you too have come through Te
Korokoro o Te Parata! By the way, Tamatekapua did go on as we know to arrive at his destination, and of course to
prosper in his own way. Thank goodness because I am here, we are here. You see....whakapapa!
I think back to the words of the koroua Hapi Winiata who challenged us to remember: "Ka timata te ora i te kainga"
His wero to us, then and now, is to hold fast to the belief that wellness begins in our home, and our Marae is our home.
At Houmaitawhiti, you have embraced this philosophy, being a part of marae-based health learning.
And so what better place to come to, than here, to celebrate the graduation of 18 National Certificate in Hauora
students.
It was a real honour to be invited to celebrate your successes and the brilliance of the whare kahu - the indigenous
framework.
Elsdon Best in his 1929 work, 'The Whare kohanga and its lore'; talked about the Whare Kahu or whare whakakahu - as
being the whare specially constructed for the accommodation of the expectant mother. According to Best, "the word kahu
denotes the membrane enveloping a foetus". You see...whakapapa again.
What is universally accepted in our histories, is the special power that is associated with conception, gestation and
birth.
Whether it be within the confederation of Te Arawa, or the people associated with the Mataatua, Takitimu and Tainui
waka, our people had stories associated with the gifting of the spirit, heart and knowledge of the child.
We know of oriori that welcomed the child as a mark of respect for the new life. Wisdom was to be passed from one
generation to the next, and the many voices around that child would prepare the child for its journey.
The journey is one of linking the mana, wairua, mauri, ihi, wehi, tapu of generations long gone with those yet to come.
This was recognised and endorsed.
And so too, when thinking of the kaupapa of this programme, the concept of whare kahu is indeed a powerful metaphor for
the journey you will now be embracing, in search of excellence for the wellbeing and advancement of your whanau.
You have been enveloped with the mana of whakapapa - mana hau o ra. That whakapapa has seen you surrounded with the
warmth of mana whanau, mana motuhake, mana tane, mana wahine, mana tupuna, mana tangata, mana atua, mana mokopuna.
Let's face it - mana is invested in all that you have seen, experienced and flourished in over the course of your study.
You have been grounded in these concepts through the power of tooku reo rangatira - tooku mapihi maurea. The application
of whakatauki, of te reo tupuna, of waiata, te ihi me te wehi has ensured that what you have learnt as students will
serve to strengthen our collective resolve to live as Maori, to be Maori .
On the first day of the parliament session, my friend Hone was moved by the spirit of our collective resolve to mihi to
the whare. As he stood and paid his respects to all that had graced the walls of that house with their korero, it was
seen as a profound challenge on many fronts.
A challenge to the Westminster traditions, the way of being that is taken for granted within the conventions of
Parliament. But a challenge also to the land, that the traditions, the conventions of tangata whenua must take our
rightful place within the tikanga that operates in all sectors of Aotearoa.
And so, we will continue to ask our patai in te reo, we will relish the opportunity to accompany our korero with the
appropriate waiata, we will be Maori .
The reclamation and revitalisation of our birthright, to express our rangatiratanga, is an opportunity we cherish with
the Maori Party, with our mahi in Parliament, as is this National Certificate in Hauora.
You are graduating today from a training establishment that is committed to encouraging leaders in both whanau
advancement and health.
The kaupapa of this programme is one that is important to me.
Manaakitanga towards each other, kaitiakitanga over our own hauora, the reclaimation of our own hauora practises, the
importance of whakapapa, the revival and retention of our reo Rangatira and above all, the aspirations and priorities
for our people acting as our driving force for change.
Your mahi over the last eight months has shown that you are already skilled in the majority of the kaupapa you work
with. Your graduation day, is affirmation of that.
I referred earlier to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Having had the discussion on its background, your biggest challenge yet
awaits you. The challenge of ensuring Te Tiriti o Waitangi lives and breathes in its fullest expression.
We could say that it is a birthing of the potential of our nation. The movement to build a society in which the essence
of all people is invigorated and sustained.
The treaty becomes like Tamatekapua, the guide for our future development. A nation which accords the right of Maori to
hold rangatiratanga over our own hauora. A nation which endorses oritetanga, which ensures the appropriate resourcing of
hauora outcome as we define them.
Our parliamentary caucus is currently working on a number of legislative proposals to give effect to nga taonga katoa,
to demonstrate mana motuhake.
One of these is through the simple introduction of a new possibility for the oaths and allegiances taken by New
Zealanders to include respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and appropriate acknowledgement of kawai rangatira - those that
we descend from.
In its practical application it might only be a few words - but in its spirit we hope it will advance the values we all
hold dear - of love, respect, dignity, kinship and integrity.
I firmly believe that we all have the potential to make a difference. Whether it is a few words in an oath, or the
skilled journey of knowledge you have acquired through marae based wananga, we can all look to a future which is as
bright and bountiful as this day.
I want to commend the initiative and talents of Mere Potaka-Osborne and Tiaria Wickliffe who have helped to bring this
national certificate to life, guided by our kaumatua Te Ariki Morehu and Kingi Porima, our kaiwhakaruruhau, Hohi Porima,
and training manager, Kirsten Rei.
These are all people who have helped to make a difference, through the Tipu Ora charitable trust, which in itself dates
back over a decade of dedicated efforts for the benefit of our people.
Tipu Ora also traces back a whakapapa which builds on the strong foundation of Te Roopu o Te Ora which was established
in 1931,
I take great pleasure in celebrating people like yourselves as you pass another stage in life. People like you all, who
are playing a huge part in shaping the health and knowledge of our whanau, who act as advocates, as guides and mentors,
as leaders.
I plead with you not to ever fall into the trap of considering your future work, as just that! You are all so important
to our people. I like to think of those of you who have some new knowledge and mätauranga as "change agents" for our
people. Please do not ever underestimate that difference you can make to the development of our people. It is the people
who work with the whanau who make the biggest impact, so you are all so very important.
If our whanau are secure and all members within it are thriving, then the continuity of whakapapa is secure too.
I am proud to both speak to and celebrate with you today. You are the leaders that can make more change. Be proud of
this, and grow with this.
ENDS