Traditional Knowledge and the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership

Last Monday (3 Dec 2012), thanks to Prof Jane Kelsey, I had the opportunity to present some ideas on mātauranga Māori/indigenous knowledge to negotiators who were meeting all this week in Auckland to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership. It was a very brief opportunity which took place at Waipapa Marae, University of Auckland. Here are some of the things I said:

  • Our vision is for the indigenous dimension of New Zealand society to be positive, dynamic, creative force in our nation’s life, economy and culture, something that all New Zealand can be proud of. We seek to turn colonisation and its deleterious effects on its head. 
  • The contribution of indigenous peoples is not merely to gain participation in existing arrangements in New Zealand society, but also to bring distinctive aspects and creativity to our nation, to improve it according to indigenous vision, experience and action
  • We remain concerned with matters of social justice – we are alert to ways in which indigenous peoples were and are marginalised
  • We remain concerned with cultural revitalisation - to uplift our language, our knowledge, our customary lifestyles
  • We are also inspired by our own ‘creative potential’ - to be inspired by what we have rather than what we have lost
  • Traditional Knowledge is a critically important dimension within the creative potential of indigenous communities
  • This knowledge belongs to our communities and it is deeply important to the ongoing realisation of our potential
  • We do not regard it as ‘museum pieces’ but rather a dynamic living tradition of memory, experience, an understanding of life.
  • We wish to repatriate this knowledge to our people and enable it to be utilised by our people in new and creative ways and for their benefit.
  • If we are strengthened in our own knowledge, we are more likely to be open, to share, to engage in positive relationships. Conversely, if we feel our rights to our own knowledge are compromised, we are less likely to engage, to be open.
Carwyn Jones (Ngāti Kahungunu) from Victoria University of Wellington also spoke on the Wai262 Flora and Fauna claim brought before the Waitangi Tribunal. 

Information on the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership can be found at these websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Strategic_Economic_Partnership

http://tppinfo.org/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

'Te Tiriti o Waitangi' hui held at Tūrangawaewae Marae, Ngāruawāhia 20 January 2024

Image
National Identity Workshop in Kimiora, Tūrangawaewae Marae, Ngāruawāhia 20 January 2024 I was fortunate to attend the ‘Te Tiriti o Waitangi’ hui called by Kingi Tūheitia at Tūrangawaewae Marae, Ngāruawāhia, this past Saturday, 20 January 2024. It was an historic event and showed, among other things, how the Kīngitanga continues to be an extraordinary institution. Although it has had its ups and downs in recent times, there is no other institution in the Māori world that can call for and host such a hui. The Rātana Church is an extraordinary institution too and hosts major hui, and recently Te Matatini has become a significant event. However, it is only the Kīngitanga that regularly hosts such large hui bringing the various iwi of the country together. And it is not just its physical capacities, capabilities and infrastructure that enables it to host hui of this kind. It is also because of the depth and complexity of the relationships it holds with every iwi of the country - even those
Read more

Comparing the articles of Te Tiriti-o-Waitangi with the ACT Party’s proposed principles, Feb 2024

The ACT Party has proposed a ‘Treaty Principles Bill’ which they assert ‘would restore the mana of our founding document by ensuring it delivers what it originally promised in 1840: nga tikanga katoa rite tahi – the same rights and duties for all New Zealanders.’  They further explain: The Treaty Principles Bill will not change the Treaty itself. That was set in 1840 and will remain forever. What we are seeking to do is continue the process of defining the Treaty principles, for the first time incorporating the voices of all people through a democratic Parliamentary process, instead of through the Tribunal or the courts. See here for the source of these quotes and for further information from the ACT Party:  https://www.treaty.nz/ The ACT Party have placed three proposed principles on their website and it is helpful to compare these proposed principles with the actual texts of both Te Tiriti-o-Waitangi and the Treaty of Waitangi. Please note that the principles that appear on the ACT P
Read more

Hineruhi: The Mythical Paragon of Feminine Dance

Hineruhi is dawnlight - a beautiful, soft, feminine light that shines forth at the beginning of day. She is the dawn maid, the dawnlight that sparkles and dances upon the morning dew. She sparkles, glimmers, radiates. She cleanses and makes things pure. She is playful and light. The Hine energy takes us across thresholds - receiving and transforming. As Hinetītama, she facilities the birth from Te Pō to Te Ao. As, Hinenui-i-te-pō, she facilitates the transition from Te Ao to Te Pō. The Hine energy is concerned with passing through doorways and entering new realms and her song comes in the form of the karanga. Hineruhi receives, transforms and offers. She receives Tāne's gift, nurturing it, transforming it, ready to make offerings to the world. Her lover is Tānerore. She inspires him as he inspires her. We delight to be in Hineruhi's presence. She cleanses us and she awakens our spirits. The Māori word for beauty and one we can associate with Hineruhi is 'pūrotu'.
Read more