04 November 2016

PARIHAKA DAY

The Pacific Panthers (PP) and Auckland Peace Action (APA) are honouring the history of Parihaka by hosting a Peace Action conference at the Auckland Central Library on Parihaka Day (5th November).

The people of Parihaka, led by Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi, resisted military forces by way of peaceful protests in a continued struggle against colonialism. This conference intends to uphold that mana of peaceful resistance and continue the conversations by educating about and discussing contemporary peaceful resistance.

The conference comes before the Week of Peace organised by APA to challenge the Weapons conference and the converging of military vessels in Tāmaki Makaurau.

"From West Papua to Mauna Kea, from Tāmaki Makaurau to Rapanui, from Moruroa to Manus, we as Pacific peoples must continue to resist the militarisation of our Pacific homelands. We stand in solidarity with Auckland Peace Action in a spirit of peace and justice" says Te Ao Pritchard, PP and APA organiser.

Pacific peoples have long been violently affected by military occupation, and have resisted this every step of the way in the responsibility as caretakers of Papatūānuku. Pacific peoples stand in solidarity with Standing Rock, another contemporary example of colonisation, land confiscation and environmental racism. The conference will be conducted in Tala Noa pacific style, so the sessions are interactive rather than a lecture.

This is a free and public event for indigenous peoples and tauiwi alike. Speakers include filmmaker Paora Joseph, who produced Tatarakihi: The Children of Parihaka; noted academics Keala Kelly, Craig Santos-Perez, Teresia Teaiwa and Jane Kelsey; Muslim feminist Khayreyah Amani Wahaab and prison abolitionist Emilie Rākete. Marama Davidson will be speaking about her recent experiences on the Women's Boat to Gaza. The Rev Mua Strickson-Pua will be MC of the event.

Those attending the conference will also write a peace declaration in solidarity with the different movements of resistance that are occurring right now and articulating our commitments to peace and justice.

The conference will take place Saturday November 5th at the Auckland City Library on Level 2, the Whare Wānanga which sits on Ngāti Whātua land. It will run from 10am to 3.30pm and lunch will be provided. Following the conference, a screening of Tatarakihi: The Children of Parihaka will be on at the Academy Cinema at 5pm. After this, some people will go to the occupation at Ihumatao.

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