Statement for Moana Jackson

E te whatukura e wehe atu nei, ko tērā o ngā ngākau māhaki o tātou, ko koe tērā e Moana.

He toka tū moana koe, te tangata kaha ana ki te whawhai mō tātou Ngāi Māori, nō reira kua ea tō mahi i waenganui i a mātou. Hoki atu rā ki ngā mātua tīpuna, ki a rātou kua wehe I mua I a koe, ko Syd rāua ko June tērā. Koutou hoki ngā tini mate o tēnā rohe, o tēnā marae, o tēnā whānau, tēnei e mihia, tēnei e tangihia, tēnei e poroporoakitia, nō reira haere, haere, oti atu rā.

The Green party is acknowledging the loss of a Te Ao Māori mentor, Dr Moana Jackson (Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou). We are grieving alongside the country and the world today.

Moana was a fierce advocate for Māori tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake, reforming the criminal justice system, and decolonisation.

Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson reflects on the impact Moana left not only on Māori, but on the whole of Aotearoa.

“Moana was a mentor to so many across the motu. He bravely challenged structural and institutional racism, advocating for an Aotearoa that was decolonised and re-indigenised.”

“Moana always spoke not just truth to power, but truth about our power as Māori because he knew what was right for Māori, was right for everyone.”

“As a young wāhine Māori activist he offered me direct encouragement over the years, reminding me to ignore the rubbish that gets thrown at us when we challenge racism. Now as a politician I always looked towards Moana’s work and words. He inspired not only me, but generations of Māori because he was known as one of our big thinkers and giants in the collective work for Māori political aspirations.”

“I feel privileged to be a Te Mātāwaka member as we are now left to continue his kaupapa of constitutional transformation, a great responsibility that we will ensure we uphold.”

“While his death brings great sadness. Moana’s legacy will live on in the many generations of people who endeavour to continue the kaupapa of decolonising our country.”

“Our love and thoughts are with Moana’s whānau during this time.”

Nō reira e te rangatira, takoto mai, e moe, takoto mai rā.

ENDS

Latest Māori Development Announcements

Story

Govt already seeking advice on Treaty referendum

On one hand, the Prime Minister has assured Aotearoa that his party will not support the Treaty Principles Bill beyond first reading, but on the ot...
Read More

Story

Greens call on Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned after letter from Christian leaders

The Green Party is once again urging the Prime Minister to abandon the Treaty Principles Bill as a letter from more than 400 Christian leaders call...
Read More

Story

Vast majority of councils support Māori wards

Councils across the country have now decided where they stand regarding Māori wards, with a resounding majority in favour of keeping them in what i...
Read More

Story

Govt shirks its responsibility to Whakaata Māori

The Green Party has called out the Government for allowing Whakaata Māori to effectively collapse to a shell of its former self as job cuts and pro...
Read More

Story

Greens call on Luxon to abandon Treaty Principles Bill following Waitangi Tribunal report

The Green Party is calling on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to abandon the Treaty Principles Bill following the Waitangi Tribunal’s scathing rep...
Read More

Story

Budget neglects Māori and disregards Te Tiriti

The Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka (Māori and Pasifika) caucus has labelled this year’s Budget as unambitious for Māori and unapologetic in its disregar...
Read More

Latest Te Tiriti O Waitangi Announcements

Story

UNDRIP – Let’s get on with it

The Green Party welcomes the next steps towards implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Aotearo...
Read More

Story

Return private land to Māori, say Greens

The Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka caucus has released Hoki Whenua Mai - a discussion document outlining what the Crown should do to redress the on-goin...
Read More

Democracy, human rights, and te Tiriti of Waitangi

Aotearoa can have a flourishing democracy with te Tiriti o Waitangi as its foundation. We can be proud of our democracy compared to many other coun...
Read More

Policy

Kaupapa Māori Policy

The Green Party will uphold tino rangatiratanga, enhance the mana of the Waitangi Tribunal, return land lost through colonisation, and support the ...
See More

Policy

Te Tiriti o Waitangi Policy

In 2001, the Charter of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand was amended to recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi as our country’s founding document, a...
See More

Story

Māori women in business contribute to our economy, whānau and communities

Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter has released a new report celebrating the contribution of Māori women in business across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Read More