Collins criticised over call for wahine to speak
WAITANGI: Green Party coleader Marama Davidson says Judith Collins lacks ‘‘cultural expertise’’ and should leave the debate over who can speak on marae to wahine Maori.
The stern comments come after Ms Collins spoke out about not being afforded the opportunity to speak during the politicians’ powhiri at Waitangi.
The politicians were welcomed on to Te Whare Runanga on Thursday, but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was the only woman allowed a speaking slot.
That issue was gently raised by National’s speaker, deputy Shane Reti, during his speech in te reo Maori. He asked them to please reconsider it.
In response, Ngapuhi elder Waihoroi Shortland promised it would be allowed to happen next year.
Ms Collins said the decision not to let her speak had disappointed her.
She said it was important women growing into leadership roles knew they had the same rights as men.
‘‘It isn’t only about me or politicians, it’s about all women — wahine toa — who wish to be able to have their say.’’
Ms Davidson, of Ngapuhi, Ngati Porou and Te Rarawa, sat alongside Ms Collins during the powhiri and was also denied the chance to speak.
However, in Waitangi yesterday, she said that decision was up to the hau kainga, local people of the marae, and not for visiting politicians.
Ms Collins’ comments also ignored the work of wahine Maori to further the discussion around tikanga, Ms Davidson said.
‘‘[Ms Collins] does not have the cultural expertise to be able to acknowledge wahine Maori need to lead the discussion about what our roles are and where we put our voices.
‘‘She does not have the cultural expertise to understand the first voice and only voice that can allow a powhiri to happen is the karanga [led by women], and she undermines the meaning of the karanga by coming from a pakeha woman’s perspective.
‘‘In saying that, Maori women have long been leading and asking for us to review our tikanga in a way that upholds the genesis of the mana of wahine.’’
Ms Ardern, who has spoken at Waitangi since she became Prime Minister, said she would support a move to allow other women leaders to speak.
‘‘I was heartened to hear that call being made that next year it would be different. It would be fantastic to allow all leaders to speak, just as I have that privilege.’’
It is not the first time there have been debates over women speaking at Waitangi. In 1998, then Labour opposition leader Helen Clark was reduced to tears after matriarch Titewhai Harawira blocked her from speaking on Te Tii marae.
Maori studies academic and political commentator Rawiri Taonui has written extensively on the topic, and in an article for The Spinoff said the pakeha assumption that women sitting behind men at powhiri was discriminatory and sexist was wrong — as were decisions about who spoke.
‘‘For Maori, the roles are equal: women in front for the karanga, men in front for whaikorero, sidebyside for waiata.’’
However, decisions about who could speak, particularly when politics was involved, had long been challenged by wahine Maori, he said. — The Northern Advocate