Weeping Waters: Malcolm Mulholland
Firstly, let me begin by paying homage to those who have given their time and expertise to pen a chapter for the publication. Without their involvement, "Weeping Waters: The Treaty of Waitangi and Constitutional Change" would never see the light of day. Having contributors is a deliberate approach to providing Maori opinion and knowledge; you will never find one guru, but with the help of many you can document where Māori are at.
To my co-editor Veronica Tawhai, who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, "Kia Ora Girl!". To Margaret Mutu, Arohia Durie, Caren Fox, Tom Roa, Apirana Mahuika, Basil Keane, Moana Jackson, Tania Rangiheuea, Hohaia Collier, Tama Potaka, Anne Sullivan, Kaapua Smith, Muru Walters, Janine Hayward, Jacinta Ruru and Linda Te Aho - nga mihi nui ki a koutou!
It has always been a dream of mine to be involved in a book about the Treaty of Waitangi; I suspect this is a dream that is shared by most Māori authors, evidenced I suppose by the relatively short period of time it took for the eighteen contributors to complete their chapters (six months). For myself personally, politics is in my blood. My great great grandfather, Hoani Rangi-taka-i-waho was the Rangatira of Papawai at the time of the Kotahitanga, or Māori Parliament, in the 1890's. So incensed was he about the treatment of Māori and the loss of land, he presented several petitions to Parliament in 1876 about increasing the number of Maori seats in Parliament and asking for more protective measures to Māori land. The fact that he sold much of his land to finance the large gatherings held under the mantle of Kotahitanga, is a sad testimony to effects of not having the Treaty properly upheld by successive governments.
"Weeping Waters" is an important text in the course of the debate about the Treaty and a constitution for Aotearoa. It has been some years since a book has recorded Māori views about various aspects of the Treaty and constitutional change. It is a compilation that I hope will encourage and promote discussions amongst communities, both Pakeha and Māori. That in itself is important; the book speaks about not only dialogue between the Treaty partners, but it lays challenges down for Māori. Can we reach a consensus about a way forward? If we agree to a pan-Māori structure, can we protect the rangatiratanga of iwi and hapu?
What particularly strikes me about the book is the focus for some on identifying values that should be upheld by a constitution. In the past much of the kōrero has been about suggesting structural changes that would give greater effect to a Māori voice and representation. I think that the book marks a shift from talking about structural change, to looking at what values do we hold dear? Moana Jackson, a man whose opinion is respected by all Māori on constitutional issues, reminds us that the framework in which to begin the discussion on a new constitution for Aotearoa is kawa. Kawa is a way of being that most Māori are familiar with when it comes to how to behave and operate on our Marae. The challenge is to think beyond the grounds that house our whare, to what that might mean when talking about how the country should operate as a whole. To begin from that starting point is to provide the correct pathway forward as we seek to give better meaning to the Treaty.
As I begin my weeklong journey to Waitangi with my whānau, I am excited about unveiling "Weeping Waters" to the world (I confess I am a Waitangi virgin having never been there before!) There is the usual anticipation of exhilaration one gets as a book they have been involved with nears its launch. But this time there is an added feeling of responsibility and of representing Māori in the views expressed in the book. It reminds me of why I wanted to be a writer; to write for a purpose.
It is with that at the forefront of my mind that I travel to Waitangi to launch "Weeping Waters".
2 February 2010