For the politicians and Māori leaders, the journey to Waitangi for Waitangi Day might be just another date on a busy annual calendar in another election year. But for the two nurses under the shady trees beside Te Whare Rūnanga, the wharenui on the Treaty grounds, it was an experience they’d never forget.
South Island members of NZNO’s Te Poari, Isla Taunoa and Charleen Waddell spoke to Kaitiaki about visiting Waitangi for the first time — and coming from the other end of the country to do it.
Waddell, Te Tai Tonga chairperson, chuckled when she talked about one of the differences between the Deep South, where she had come from, and the sweltering Far North.
It was lovely tropical weather and the sun was out in Invercargill when she left, she said. “However, it might have only been 10 degrees.”
Every year as Waitangi Day looms, the town of Paihia and the nearby Treaty grounds swell with visitors — mostly Māori — from around the country.
In this only-in-New Zealand event, the country’s political leaders, Māori leaders, and everyday people hang out together in the days leading up to Waitangi Day.
“It’s about the mauri and it’s about the synergy,” said Waddell. “Our whānau back home, we always carry them with us.”
Hapū had always celebrated Waitangi Day down south, Waddell said.
“We always have for our local marae and our whānau. Even working in Australia you celebrate Waitangi — because it’s the journey of making sure we keep our whakapapa and identity.”
Another part of making the journey to Waitangi was about helping to make sure the day continued into the future, for rangatahi, she said.
“It’s the kotahitanga, it’s remembering our whānau, our manaakitanga and aroha ki te tangata [love for the people].”
Te Poari visited Waitangi in election year — an event this year that included politicians jockeying to set up their messages for the year.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke at Te Whare Rūnanga during the politicians’ pōhiri: striking an apparent conciliatory tone, but sticking to the same anti-equity message.
Meanwhile on Waitangi Day itself, ACT leader David Seymour was shouted into temporary silence by a crowd that had simply had enough of his message.
Nevertheless, the event was still something special for Taunoa too. “It’s beautiful, it’s everything I thought it would be . . . everything about this place carries a lot of mana.”
She said honouring Waitangi Day, and understanding its relevance was very necessary for nurses.
“Everything about this place carries a lot of mana.”
“It’s super important that nurses understand it. Kawa whakaruruhau, cultural safety, kotahitanga, all those aspects are entwined here at Waitangi. That understanding can come from understanding history.”