Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is the wahine co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, a political party in Aotearoa. Descending from Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine and Ngā Rauru, she is a grassroots activist and environmental campaigner with a lifetime of fighting for indigenous rights. Candice Luke reports.

As a wahine mau moko (a woman with traditional chin tatau) at the helm of Māori representation in governance, her face is known across the globe, featured in viral videos of pukana in parliament and “dragging” the government from her seat in opposition. 

She has opposed domestic seabed mining and Te Pāti Māori fights climate change while supporting climate change adaptation planning, a pressing issue in the Pacific. 

Before the Aotearoa Māori political calendar kicked off for 2024, Debbie and her family of 16 were in Rarotonga getting some much needed family time and rest.

While on the island she was recognised and approached by locals to help with their gripes, leaving her questioning: “What is our responsibility to the people of Kūki ‘Airani? Our tuakana.” 

CLIMATE CHANGE AND LAND LOSS 

Imagine if we had to map out our island because we’re going to lose it forever? Our urupā. Imagine us having to map out Mounga Taranaki and all our wāhi tapu because we’re sinking. As nations of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, we all came from each other to get to where we are. We can’t pretend that we don’t connect to each other with every decision and action we make in the climate change space.

PACIFIC PEOPLES LABOUR IN AOTEAROA

We bring in more and more of our Pasifika workers, labourers to help our cyclone stricken areas, our Covid response, our tourism, rest homes, but what are we doing as tangata whenua of Aotearoa to ensure we look after their people back home. Tangata moana are our tuakana. We can’t forget that.  

TOURISM 

It’s not going to exist if we keep wrecking the ocean. The last time I was here 20 years ago the lagoon was full of fish. I haven’t seen as many here except for the marine reserve. 

PACIFIC VOICES IN NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT 

No one has our tangata moanas backs. They want to get rid of our Pacific ministries. Can you imagine that? David Seymour (leader of coalition party ACT) doesn’t even believe in Pacific ambassadors. We went as a delegation to Samoa. To be fair he was really respectful, but not once did he shut up and listen to that intelligent wahine, the Samoan prime minister, saying what she wants and what’s important. 

He thought he knew better. This is the arrogance of being a bigger place. He didn’t get over the fact that we’re the teina, and they have been living self-sustainably forever. He hasn’t thought about the wider implications of development in the Pacific. 

BUSINESS CONNECTIONS IN AOTEAROA

Being able to chill out and listen to kōrero is really interesting. Tours, retail outlets, fashion, food, there are interconnections that rely on us. The tuakana is relying on the teina, but you know how teina behave. It’s a critical time to have people on the island who are pono, because no one in government in NZ has the Pacifics back. 

AOTEAROA MĀORI IN KŪKI ‘AIRANI 

Rangatahi now are growing up remembering that connection. You don’t get off saying “I’m only (NZ) Māori” and forgetting who we came from. There is a deeper reason you have been called here. Find your path and purpose here. 

TE TIRITI O WAITANGI 

If our Pasifika relationships didn’t exist we wouldn’t even have a Tiriti. We all learned from somewhere to be smart enough to know that was what we had to do. 

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Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Te Pāti Māori, and thousands from across Aotearoa descended on Turangawaewae Marae to attend a national meeting to hold the New Zealand government to account. Called by the Kiingitanga (the Māori King movement), groups discussed concerns that have arisen from the political agendas of the National, Act and NZ First coalition. Act Party proposes a referedum on the Treaty of Waitangi principles. 

ACT's proposed Treaty principles: The New Zealand government has the right to govern all New Zealanders;

Honour all New Zealanders in the chieftainship of their land and property; and all New Zealanders are equal under the law with the same rights and duties.