Jackson: Man who reached out to all
Luminary lawyer Moana Jackson’s legacy of changing how a nation thought about colonisation and people’s rights may never have been, but for an ill-fated season in rugby.
Hundreds of mourners arrived at Matahiwi Marae for a two-hour powhiri yesterday as Jackson was brought home from Te Waimana, where he died on the northern fringes of Te Urewera on Thursday.
Fred Jackson, of Hastings, said his brother possibly had other ideas about his future when he started at Victoria University close to 60 years ago.
“I think he would have loved to have been a rugby player,” he said.
Jackson’s father, Everard, was an All Blacks prop in the 1930s. But the former Hastings Boys’ High School prefect and First XV loosie’s first season with capital city club Wellington was barely half gone when he broke a shoulder and collarbone.
Much of what followed in his life was covered after Jackson was carried through the waharoa onto the marae off Lawn Rd, near Clive, karanga ringing out in the slight breeze. Ma¯ori MP Meka Whaitiri (Ikaroa-Ra¯whiti) said afterwards Jackson’s legacy had been “the pathway” he had set in
a quiet but passionate way for understanding the impacts of colonisation and the restoration of indigenous rights.
He had advocated in a way that compelled people to listen.
“He embraced all people, to a
better way.” She stressed what he had selflessly done for Nga¯ti Kahungunu, including the waters and fisheries issues, and more recently chairing the ministerially appointed board to help save Te Aute and Hukarere colleges, both of which were represented at the po¯whiri by students and staff.
Jackson (Nga¯ti Kahungunu, Nga¯ti Porou and Rongomaiwahine) is revered within Ma¯oridom as a leader who helped wha¯nau, hapu¯ and iwi make decisions about Nga¯ti Kahungunu development.
“He was an expert in Te Tiriti, indigenous rights, tikanga, law and history and used his skills as an educator, motivator, facilitator and advocate to help all people understand colonisation and the impact it has had on Aotearoa,” the iwi said.
“His report, He Whaipaanga Hou, published in 1988, was well ahead of its time, providing solutions to help shape the criminal justice system so that it works fairly not just for Ma¯ori, but for all New Zealanders.
“Moana played a leading role in helping to shape the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At one stage, he led the working group that was tasked with putting the draft together.
“He was in constant demand as a keynote speaker at conferences, Waitangi Tribunal and court hearings for his expertise in international human rights, tino rangatiratanga and social justice.”
Moana Jackson’s casket was laid at the front of the wharenui Te Matau-a-Maui, where he will rest before the final service and burial beside his mother and eldest brother Syd tomorrow.