š¤ My experience at Waitangi as a young MÄori journalist
Re: News journalist Te Ahipourewa Forbes reflects on her experiences as a first-time reporter at Waitangi.
The wairua of Waitangi was the most beautiful thing Iāve ever seen.Ā
I didnāt know what to expect when I first got there.Ā
On Saturday when I woke up, the nerves were kicking in. I felt an enormous wave of anxiety.Ā
184 years ago my own tupuna Te Ruinga signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi on behalf of our whÄnau. On behalf of NgÄti Paoa at Karaka Bay in March 1840.
Was Te Ruinga nervous too? Was he feeling anxious about signing up for such a huge partnership, a deal which would continue after all these years, to hold the nation in its grips?
The truth is, on that morning even though I had a direct connection to one of the signatories, I still didnāt know what to expect or how the day would unfold.Ā
I think I was worried because of the rhetoric and the views that are coming out of the coalition government and how they directly affect te iwi MÄori.
When I spoke to Waitangi National Trust chairman Pita Tipene (NgÄti Hine) for a story about what happens at Waitangi, he said over the many years he had been coming to Waitangi, there had always been protests - there had always been anger and frustration.Ā
Te iwi MÄori come united to Waitangi, Tipene said.Ā
āOur people have a range of ways of showing their anger and frustration, what we like to say here at Waitangi is, to express yourself but do so in a respectful way and in a way that doesn't tread on the mana of others.āĀ
āBut this is the place to come and express your anger and frustration,ā he told me.Ā
I grew up watching Waitangi Day as a place people would go and express their anger and frustration, sometimes in a physical manner.Ā
It was the complete opposite. Yes, everyone was as angry and frustrated, as they should be.Ā
But the way that everyone expressed themselves was so reviving.
ACT leader David Seymour being sung awayĀ
When David Seymour stood up and gave his speech on the pae (the speakerās bench), people drowned him out with the sound of their singing.Ā Ā
Although what he was saying was confronting, people just peacefully sang him back to his seat.
It's pretty common for people to sing over someone when what is being said is disliked. Itās a form of protest - peaceful protest.
Being myself and following tikanga
Being welcomed onto marae is not unusual for me. I have been welcomed onto many marae in the past for many different reasons like tangihanga, noho marae and reunions.Ā
However, this was my first time as a storyteller and a journalist.
When I was calling around trying to set up interviews for our stories, I was quickly reminded that I was to come as MÄori and not as a journalist.Ā
I was nervous that I didnāt have a plan. I just had to trust that everything would work out. And it did.
I knew tikanga would guide me and it did, it even got me a growling for turning up late (the roads!) and entering through the wrong door (that was me!), but thatās how tikanga and kawa work, you get told off and you donāt do it again.
On the first day I arrived, I was welcomed to Kenana Marae which is about 80 kms north of Waitangi.
After the pÅwhiri and the formalities, we were invited into the wharekai (dining hall) for dinner.
This is where a huge part of whakawhanaungatanga (the process of establishing relationships) happened. And I'm glad it did.
Over our smoked fish stew, kÅ«mara bake and lots and lots of fry bread we learnt who was who and importantly who they whakapapa to. It was reka (yum) as.Ā
I had got so lost in te ao kikokiko (the world of the living) with my mahi, deadlines and schedules, that I forgot I just needed to be myself, trust my internal wairua and look for signs and prompts from those much wiser than me.
The weather and the connection to the whenuaĀ
A moment where I had to pause and just observe was when I was looking out at the Waitangi harbour and the kids were all jumping off the bridge and connecting with the whenua.
They call this place the winterless north and this year it didnāt disappoint.
Everywhere I looked I just saw the most delightful scenes. WhÄnau reuniting, tamariki, cousins hanging out. Kuia sitting and watching their mokopuna.Ā
The wairua at Waitangi, I felt it deep inside. I will be back.
Re: recommendations
These are not paid recommendations - theyāre just things we like, including stuff weāve enjoyed watching from our whÄnau at TVNZ š„°
Shortland Street on TVNZ+
Te Ahi has made it no secret that this is her favourite show and I know she would want me to recommend this. Itās a New Zealand classic, what more do I need to say? - Mandy Te, Re: News editor
This roasted paneer, naan and and tomato salad recipeĀ
For when you want delicious flavour, but also a salad because of the warm summer evenings. Itās so tasty and pretty straightforward, and it also has cubes of paneer cheese and naan bread in it, so, yum. It comes from one of my favourite cookbooks, by Guardian columnist Meera Sodha, called East. I honestly canāt recommend this cookbook enough - every recipe tastes even better than it looks - Anna Harcourt, Re: News head of content
Erny Belle is special and deserves more attention
Erny Belle performed the opening slot at Laneway on Waitangi Day. Unfortunately, due to her 12.30pm start time, most Laneway-goers missed her ā which is a real shame because her music slaps! If you like other sad-sounding indie girlies such as Aldous Harding, Weyes Blood or Lana Del Rey then you will love Erny! I recommend starting with her song Crypto - Liam van Eeden, Re: News multimedia journalist
Juice on TVNZ+
If you like easy-to-watch mini series that you could binge in one night, then you will love this show! I think I watched all six 20-minute episodes without my head leaving my pillow (donāt judge me). I wonāt reveal anything about what the show is about because Iām a big believer in watching things blind, but itās funny, gay, wholesome and bold! - Liam van Eeden, Re: News multimedia journalist
Thank you so much for sharing from your heart and with your journalist skills. Lovely enriching read.