Claim store wanted cultural services on cheap

QUEENSTOWN

A MAORI charitable trust in Queenstown is accusing Bunnings Warehouse of wanting cultural performers on the cheap.

Mana Tahuna said it was asked to do a dawn karakia and waiata as part of the opening of the new hardware store in Frankton, but the company went elsewhere when it was told the fee would be $500.

While the trust was furious,

Bunnings insisted it had been a misunderstanding.

Mana Tahuna is a charitable trust which aims to improve the lives of Maori in Queenstown and help develop a strong presence in the community.

It aims to create jobs and training for locals as well as providing advice to businesses about when and how to include Maori culture or tikanga (values and practices).

Chairman Darren Rewi said the Queenstown Bunnings emailed the trust earlier this year and asked it to perform karakia and waiata at the store opening in April.

He told the company there would be a fee.

‘‘It was a nominal figure — we just put $500 as a koha [gift or donation] for what we were trying to achieve and engage with them. We got no reply, they just disengaged and then they started ringing up whanau and any Maori in town to try and perform those cultural services.’’

Mr Rewi said he was furious about what had happened.

After he raised concerns with Bunnings it offered a donation but by that stage it was too late and the company had already approached others, he said.

‘‘They were doing the dialaMaori, trying to get anyone or someone to do it that had brown skin. That was really offensive and it’s an unsafe space for whanau to enter because Bunnings don’t seem to want to engage with us.’’

Mr Rewi said he would like an acknowledgement of the mamae (hurt) caused and for future communication to be clearer and facetoface.

Bunnings is now in mediation with the trust and has denied going to other Maori to do the blessing.

Company spokeswoman Jacqui Coombes said in a statement there was a breakdown in communication and the company had no problem paying for tikanga services.

‘‘When he [Mr Rewi] decided not to participate, we also offered him the donation as a goodwill gesture, which he chose to decline.

‘‘Following the store opening, I met with Darren Rewi to hear his perspective, and attempt to clear up any confusion so we can improve in the future.’’

Human rights, diversity and antiracism writer and researcher Dr Rawiri Taonui said the trust’s alleged experience was all too common for Maori when it came to providing cultural services.

‘‘It’s about Pakeha recognising that tikanga is work and that it takes time, effort and expertise to perform those roles.’’

Dr Taonui said nonMaori wanting tikanga services needed to contact Mana Whenua or the local iwi first and be prepared to pay for the valuable guidance and expertise they were getting. — RNZ