You can tell what time of year it is by what people are carrying. Shoes in one hand, laptop in the other, everything else tucked in where it fits, moving from one place to the next without really stopping. Within TRM, the volleyball tournament has just passed, Te Huinga Tauira musters are underway, and the familiar tune of Māori Pre-Grad is already at the doorstep, all sitting within the same stretch. Somewhere in between, the headlines have not exactly been quiet either.
And if it has somehow passed you by, here is what has been happening.
Something Spicy
Between pounamu rising on the black market, a racist haka circulating, and a “missing” taonga resurfacing in Germany, what stands out is not just that these things are happening, but how unsurprising they are becoming.
At the centre of it sits the recent revelation in documents filed with the Waitangi Tribunal, proposing that government obligations to Te Tiriti be reduced to simply “take into account” across nine Acts. Placed alongside the direction signalled by the Treaty Principles Bill of 2024, it is not a lesser shift – it carries comparable weight in how it would reset the foundations of responsibility. Moves like this do not stay contained in legislation, and they rarely do. Rather, they filter through institutions, decision-making, and the everyday systems people rely on. While framed in technical terms, the implications extend well beyond policy, setting a direction that affects not only Māori, but all New Zealanders who live within and rely on those systems.
This does not read as a one-off. It reads as something being reworked and reintroduced. You know what they say about history repeating itself, but is 2024 far enough away to call it history, or is this just the same change, packaged differently?
Something Sweet
Some things crank the heat, and others take it down a notch.
Closer to home, that showed through at Relay for Life – an annual kaupapa that raises funds for cancer research, supports those living with it, and remembers those who have passed. In Aotearoa, 77 people are diagnosed with cancer every day, and 1 in 3 will be directly affected by it in their lifetime. This year, TRM fundraised $1,440. This feeds directly into the Cancer Society’s work, which directs around $3.6 million into research each year, alongside care, education, and prevention. It sits in contrast to everything else going on – simple in purpose, and clear in intent. On the night, many of our ngā rōpū came together to support the kaupapa while TRM kept everyone going with kai, creating a pit stop in between laps – a space for pick-me-ups and to recharge. As the end was near, Te Rtio wig-snatching battle brought the energy back up – a chaotic, fun finish to a night grounded in purpose. And there’s more where that came from.
Still Cookin’
Looking ahead to May, our Tumuaki Takirua are stepping up to raise funds for Otago Polyfest, which is set to take off in September. On the flip side, if you’re a haka freak, pull up to the first Te Huinga Tauira practice on 18 May at Te Tumu. With exam season nearly upon us, you won’t want to miss out on our free exam packs in collaboration with NTKA over the next few weeks. We’ll also be hosting our first study wānanga on 23 May. More to come, so keep up with our instagram @teropu.maori for daily updates.
That’s what we’ve pulled from the pātaka this week. Kia pai te kai.
