Veterans activists call for unity against coalition government’s ‘blitzkrieg’ for Māori rights

Veteran Māori activists are mobilising to oppose what they describe as a “blitzkrieg” perpetrated by the current coalition government, and are calling for a wānanga to be convened to discuss an action plan.

The Originals, made up of Hone Harawira, Annette Sykes, Mereana Pitman, Ken Mair and Tame Iti, are planning to hold an active wānanga at Waipapa Marae in Auckland next week.

Their aim is to unite Māori and allies from across Aotearoa to confront what they see as the current government’s attack on tikanga Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, He Whakaputanga and Te Ao Māori, organisers say.

Harawira, a well-known activist and former MP for Te Tai Tokerau, earlier this year called for rangatahi to play a leading role in protest movements.

But organisers said the growing challenges facing Māori had prompted him to advocate a more “united approach”, bringing together experienced activists with younger leaders from across the country.

Veteran activist Ken Mair has issued a direct challenge to the Government, accusing it of acting in a “disgraceful and hostile” manner.

“Enough is enough. You need to make sure your actions end yesterday. If you don’t, there will be repercussions and consequences.”

He said the government must “stop attacking Māori”.

“Stop attacking the environment, stop attacking our children, stop attacking our health aspirations, stop attacking Maori troops. Stop.”

Winston Peters, deputy prime minister and leader of New Zealand First, responded to the activists’ accusations by criticising their use of the term “blitzkrieg”.

The German word means “blitzkrieg” and refers to a military strategy used to achieve quick and decisive victories through the use of rapid, concentrated, and overwhelming force. It was popularized during World War II.

“It shows how out of touch they are with 2024, the term from Nazi Germany, if you will. It shows how desperate they are, not understanding the effectiveness of the English language or the Maori language,” Peters said.

He called the group “corporate activists” and “political failures”, saying their views did not reflect the concerns of most Māori.

“Two of the three Coalition leaders are of Maori descent, yet they accuse the government of racism and attacking Maori. When we have more Maori in Parliament today than ever before.”

Peters said the current government was committed to addressing the issues that matter most to “average Māori”, such as the cost of living, housing and healthcare.

He dismissed activists’ claims that the government was undermining the importance of tikanga and Te Tiriti, saying their interpretation of the terms was “unintelligent and historically incorrect”.

“We are prepared to listen to anyone and everyone,” Peters said, “but these activists do not represent the views of the vast majority of Māori who are concerned with everyday issues, not fringe issues.”

ACT Party leader David Seymour also responded to the activists’ nationwide call and questioned their name as “The Originals”.

“I always thought The Originals were the legendary 1905 All Blacks, but I guess anyone can make up their own name for themselves,” Seymour said.

He defended the government’s actions and said all New Zealanders had an equal right to develop themselves on their own terms, “to get a world-class education, to own a home, to have a well-paid job and to live safely on the streets”.

“This aspiration is for every New Zealander, no matter who their ancestors were.”

Seymour said the government was “far from targeting any group on the basis of race” and “promotes equal rights for all.”

Mair said the government “has no legal right to act on our behalf” and its actions “undermine the constitutional pillars of our nation.”

“Our tūpuna, if they saw what was happening, would stand up and do exactly what we did. We are determined to put on a coordinated show of force to confront the chaos that has befallen us.”

Mair said immediate action was needed.

“This is a continuation of the takeover of our land, the attack on our children and the undermining of our rights. We cannot stand by and allow this to happen.”

Active wānanga will take place on 31 August at Waipapa Marae in Auckland.