Legal protection sought for Parihaka’s legacy
A law to protect the Parihaka name along with its story is being sought by descendants of the settlement, which is synonymous with peace.
Yesterday, public submissions were heard on Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka/Parihaka Reconciliation Bill, which passed its first reading in March.
The proposed legislation records parts of the agreed deed of reconciliation between the Crown and the people of Parihaka, which aims to improve understanding of the coastal settlement’s history, recognise its mana in the community and promote its legacy.
It follows on from a historically significant apology given by the Crown to Parihaka uri (descendants) in June 2017, at a ceremony of reconciliation known as He Puanga Haeata.
Parihaka, a settlement on the South Taranaki coast, is synonymous with peace and non-violent resistance, teachings promoted by prophets Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kaka¯hi.
However, its history has also been marred by extreme violence, when about 1600 armed constabulary and volunteers invaded the village on November 5, 1881.
The two prophets were arrested, the people of Parihaka were evicted from their homes before the properties were raided by soldiers, who stole taonga like pounamu.
Women were also raped during the attack.
About 40 submissions were made on the bill and 20 people spoke to their viewpoints on the legislation at a Ma¯ori Affairs select committee hearing held in Takitu¯ku¯ Marae at Parihaka.
Troy Wano, who sits on the Parihaka Papaka¯inga Trust, sought an amendment to the bill which would protect the Parihaka name, its story and legacy.
He said the story and ethos of Parihaka was widely known and used by others but the trust’s ability to protect its intellectual property at the moment was limited. Wano pointed to the legal protection given to the Ka Mate haka, which he said was a ‘‘widely known and widely exploited taonga’’.
The Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act, passed in 2014, recognised the haka as an integral part of Nga¯ti Toa’s culture and identity.
It was first performed by Nga¯ti Toa chief Te Rauparaha.
If the Ka Mate haka is used for commercial gain, attribution was needed, but exceptions applied for performances, educational or non-commercial use, including when the All Blacks performed it.
The lack of legal protection for the Parihaka name and story was also highlighted by another submitter, Aroaro Tamati.
She said the trust was inundated with requests from the public but she was also aware of times the Parihaka story was used by others without any consultation. Tamati said Parihaka is a ‘‘real, living community’’ and there was a lack of wider understanding about the significance of what that meant.
She asked for a clause to be included in the bill to ensure the cultural misappropriation of the Parihaka story could be stopped.
The select committee is due to report back on the bill in September.