Coming up on Te Karere Thousands descended onto Ōrākau this morning in Kihikihi, south of Hamilton to commemorate 160 years since the battle of Ōrākau and the end of the invasion in Waikato. Thousands attended from all over the country as the Crown is set to return the whenua to Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Waikato. Today kaimahi and iwi leaders came together for a final karakia at Pipitea Marae as the Māori Health Authority wraps up for good. 02 April 2024 Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. Thousands descended onto Ōrākau this morning in Kihikihi, south of Hamilton to commemorate 160 years since the battle of Ōrākau and the end of the invasion in Waikato. In 1864 more than a thousand colonial soldiers laid siege to the fortified pā at Ōrākau killing more than 160 from several hapū. Live at Ōrākau is Te Okiwa Mclean. Te Okiwa, what do you have to share with us about this important day at Ōrākau? Scotty, everyone has left although Maniapoto and Raukawa have stayed behind to clean up the grounds. Regardless, today's event at Ōrākau was well attended with crowds drawn to commemorate the 160th anniversary. Traditional weapons practitioners Te Akaaka Rauwhero attended alongside others from all around the country. Some came from Te Tai Tokerau to Waikato, others from Te Kura ki Tūranga and Tāwharau Toa o Mātaatua. They came to share knowledge and bring an awareness to the history surrounding this event. Earlier this morning a karakia was held to start the proceedings of the day and to honour the ancestors who have passed on. Here's Marena Mane's report. Hundreds braved the cold. An opportunity to commemorate 160 years since the Battle of Ōrākau. The government took soldiers to kill our ancestors, women and children. Many reflect. Especially these women. We've seen the stories, we've researched where it took place. Some took flight to the swamps and hid themselves. Many died, killed by the bullet. That's what makes this so great. It's a medium, Te Akaaka Rauwhero conveys the histories and oral traditions with such power and respect through haka, singing and traditional weaponry. In total, 160 died. We look to commemorate this day. Many died. They died here on site, they died for the kaupapa. It's the government who should be ashamed for what took place. The outlook for these events is for everyone to attend these events regardless of their ancestry. There were only a small number who stood to retain the mana and mauri of this site. And there were 1700 soldiers out there who came to attack our ancestors. For now though the people remember one of the darkest days in NZ's history. Land taken must be returned. Today a process was started to return the land here at Ōrākau to Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Waikato-Tainui. And that’s the challenge to the Māori Development Minister, Tama Potaka, who represented the Crown today. The iwi here laid a huge challenge to the Minister and Government officials. Tom Roa says they came without having done their homework and were uninformed about the thoughts that were presented on the marae ātea today. Let’s check out this report. The ground is trembling and the land is shaking. The Crown welcomed onto the battle grounds of Ōrākau. The mihi were excellent today. You could hear the people mourning. You could feel the power. You could feel all the emotions. Yet, it was peaceful. The pā was absolutely packed out with the multitudes who attended to commemorate 160 years of this battle. Feelings are quite strong with iwi and the country coming back here. Especially with the descendants of those who gave their lives here as well as the descendants of those who managed to survive. A war that saw British Forces estimated around 1400 men faced off with 300 Māori. Many Māori were killed. It was a battle in which Rewi Maniapoto put the call out to Tūhoe to come and assist. It saw individuals come despite the division within the iwi itself. Tūhoe were here. They came here alone. That's why it was called Te Rautakitahi. They didn't come as iwi or hapū. They came as whānau. 160 years on from the battle here at Ōrākau that saw the loss of lives and loss of land. Today the saying that goes the land that was lost is now been returned to Maniapoto, Raukawa and Waikato. It was around 2000 against just 300. There are several thousand Māori here today. And then you take a look at how many Government officials came. The world has changed. The iwi of Te Rohe Pōtae met to discuss about the future of the pā and this event. Right now the bill for returning the land to the iwi is currently before the House. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka advises that it will be read out for the first time in the next several months. In the new year the hosting rights for this event will be handed over to Te Waerenga-a-Hika on the East Coast to commemorate the 160th anniversary of that battle. It'll be another opportunity for people around the country to gather to commemorate the ancestors who died. Thank you so much Te Okiwa Mclean. What an important and special day in Ōrākau. Thank you so much for all the ins and outs. Everyone that's Te Okiwa Mclean at Ōrākau Pā. Government cleaners and security staff are calling on New Zealand First to honour an election campaign promise of a pay rise to match the living wage. The living wage has increased to 27.80 dollars an hour. That's 4.65 more than the minimum wage. Pledged protecting a living wage for government workers would be a priority, but workers say there's been "radio silence" since the coalition was formed. In its first 100 days the coalition Government promised to scrap the Māori Health Authority, and did so. But what's next for the hundreds of kaimahi it was meant to employ? Today kaimahi and iwi leaders came together for a final karakia at Pipitea Marae as the Māori Health Authority wraps up for good. The thing is it's still disappointing. Regardless, there is still some potential ahead. The thing is while the organisation is being decommissioned the ideas it held can be still acted upon at a later time. Former employees of Te Aka Whai Ora will be subsumed into Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Health. So, they've managed to escape being entirely out of a job but what happens next is anyone's guess and we'll find out soon enough. But today they leave with a job still. After the break, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson joins us live to discuss the latest issues in Parliament. Green Party co-leader MaramaDavidson joins us live to discuss the latest issues in parliament. Thank you for joining the show today. Tēnā koe e hoa, ngā mihi. Today the 160th commemoration of the Battle at Ōrākau took place. Some people had some heated words for the Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka with Tom Roa calling him a ngutungutu kau. What are your thoughts? Yes, well, that's what the taumata are like no matter which event you go to. It could be a funeral, a birthday or a commemorative event. That's what it is like. That's the space Crown Ministers occupy too. I'd like to pay tribute to the mana whenua of Ōrākau on this special day. You are the front line. So it's appropriate to challenge the Minister. We as the Greens welcome this. Iwi just want the land at Ōrākau to return to iwi. I heard their call and it's been going for a while. And so when it comes to what Tom Roa had to say, you know the Government isn't listening to iwi around the country. For example when you take a look at this government's disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, repealing Smoke Free legislation, potentially cancelling school lunches, they have a battle on their hands when it comes to empowering the wellbeing of Māori and recognising the mana motuhake they have. It's the Minister's job to listen to the challenges laid no matter who or where. So, I'd like to pay tribute again to the mana whenua of Ōrākau. Great, what an answer. The way Tom Roa made his case and corrected the Minister was quite respectful. And on the topic of the new Government, the coalition government has released it's 36-point plan following after their 100-day plan. What are some concerns you have with their three month 36-point plan? It's not a strategy. It's just words. Where is the real strategy? Where is the space for Māori? Or the environment? Where are the answers and solutions to fix the problems happening right now? This three-headed government continues to trample over the environment, the disabled, and the young which is quite bad. They are working for their rich mates and not for the wider population or the environment. So what this Government is doing is not good. We as Te Ao Māori can see what they are doing with trampling those areas which are important to te ao Māori. Where is the strategy to improve the environment and recognise the mana motuhake of hapū and iwi? Yes, indeed. This government talks as if Māori don't exist, as if there is no environment to protect. So, all the best to you in the Green Party to fix up and hold this government accountable so they start talking about the environment and Māori. The coalition govt announced significant changes to fast-track legislation meaning individual ministers would have the power to approve projects without public consent. What do the Greens think of this? There's a battle brewing to protect the country and the environment. It is so wrong what's happening. It is not right to concentrate so much power into the hands of so few. Under this fast track legislation the Ministers can consent to activities that are adverse to the environment such as seabed mining and ocean fracking. Under this bill they don't have to listen to expert opinion, to academics, or to those who have experience, nor to community members either. So, where is the democracy? It's no doubt that what this government is fixated on is money and power. That's all they are doing. Where is the concern for community? Where is the consideration for the environment that sustains us? Ignorant, this is very ignorant. Thank you Marama for presenting your and the Greens' thoughts and opinions on these issues. Te Karere is honoured by you. Thank you so much. And speaking of the Chiefs, they are back on the training pitch. The defeat to the Crusaders is their first loss in three weeks. Chiefs player Samisoni Taukei'aho says it's important for the team to bounce back after such a heavy loss. The Chiefs host Moana Pasifika in Hamilton this Saturday. After the break we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. That's all we have for today. Kia tau te mauri. Kia Ora. Huihui mai tātou katoa. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Copyright TVNZ 2024.