Opportunity for action: Toitū te Tiriti
A quick one: Te Pāti Māori are leading a national day of action as our incoming govt are sworn in, and swear allegiance to King Charles.
I feel like I’ve started every newsletter in the last three months with: what a wild time, huh? But it never gets less true. This first(?) week of having a new government has been so long and so chaotic, and I reckon it’s about all we can expect from them.
Tomorrow they get sworn in, and swear allegiance to the Crown. Tomorrow, tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti around the motu will come together to show that we will not stand for their racist, divisionary, conspiracy-founded policies - Toitū te Tiriti.
Head to te Pāti Māori’s Facebook page for all the details. In Ōtautahi, we’re meeting at the Bridge of Remembrance at 5:30pm - see you there.
On another, not dissimilar note, I’ve set up Ghost at blog.jenniferkshields.nz, in the event that Substack takes no action on their Nazi problem. Many writers on here are organising and asking them to make a stand - I’m hopeful that they will, but I’m also feeling like I want to be more in control of where I write and what that platform does. I’m not moving everything just yet - it’s helpful to continue to have some sway with this platform if needed - but don’t worry, when I do, it will be seamless - you’ll still get posts right in your inbox, and I’m writing up a guide for those of us (like myself! 😭) who will really miss the Substack app, and having everyone all in one place.
I wanted to leave you with this fantastic piece by Deb te Kawa from E Tangata (thanks to the community at
for the link):Te ao Māori is more durable than a rock that’s been pounded by waves for thousands of years.
Numbers and youth are on our side. Our stories grow from strength to strength. We still love and celebrate one another, and find joy and pride in our collective being. And there’s a generation coming through — the “kōhanga generation” — that’s ready to play a part in the future of Aotearoa while overcoming the seemingly insurmountable barriers the state creates.