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Te Whakatōhea and neighbouring iwi have expressed deep concern at recent police action in Ōpōtiki and its far-reaching impact on the community.
Leaders are calling for a proactive approach that safeguards the wellbeing of mokopuna and respects iwi perspectives, following statements that iwi were consulted and supportive of the recent operations. They say this was not the case.
At a hui last Friday, iwi leaders and whānau members from Te Whakatōhea, Ngāi Tai, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāi Tūhoe, and Te Aitanga a Māhaki gathered to discuss the impact of the police operation, which involved raids on 15 homes in Ōpōtiki.
The hui emphasised the need for clear communication and collaboration with Te Whakatōhea to ensure the best support is provided for mokopuna and whānau affected by the action.
Kylie Poihipi, an iwi leader and advocate for rangatahi and tamariki said: “From this hui, together as iwi and in support of Te Whakatōhea, we have developed an action plan to protect our mokopuna first and foremost - they are our absolute priority.
“We’ve drawn on our whānau who are experts in their fields to power up our iwi intelligence and insights to best respond to our whānau and their needs,”
The police operation resulted in the arrest of 22 individuals and affected 37 mokopuna.
Iwi leaders emphasised that iwi-led solutions provide effective, collaborative and crucial support that minimises the impact on the well-being of mokopuna, kaumātua and whānau.
Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea chair Arihia Tuoro expressed her concerns regarding the relationship between Te Whakatōhea and the Crown, particularly as the iwi looks to build a stronger partnership following its recent settlement.
“Our primary responsibility is to the safety and support of our mokopuna and kaumātua affected by these events, and we are dedicated to working constructively and collaboratively to uphold the wellbeing of our whānau and community.
“We stand united in our efforts to find solutions to best address the issues we are facing in our community, and we want to address these issues through collaboration while building trust with our whānau and those most affected. This must never happen to our mokopuna again.”
“This is a time of reflection while honouring the resilience of mokopuna and acknowledging their importance as future leaders of Aotearoa.”
Sven Carlsson
A GROUP of Ōpōtiki women have created a Facebook page called Mana Mokopuna to support the community, especially women and children, following the recent police raids.
Te Ao Maori community health worker Kylie Poihipi said the page was set up to raise awareness of, and support the whĀnau and tamariki caught up in the police operation on October 22 targeting members of the Mongrel Mob Barbarians gang.
Mana Mokopuna features three videos produced by Ōpōtiki reporter and filmmaker Kim Webby in which Ms Poihipi speaks about her concerns around the “trauma of the raids on vulnerable tamariki and at the trampling of the mana of the iwi of Whakatōhea”.
Other people speaking out about the effects, and how mokopuna needs protection include human and indigenous rights lawyer Dayle Takitimu, Te Whanau a Apanui’s Willie Te Aho and legendary Māori rights activist Tame Iti.
Web page co-creator and health advocate Jodi Porter said Ōpōtiki’s `Māori community was currently brainstorming about how “provide a way of creating protection around mokopuna”.
“We need to work with whānau,” she said.
“The raids have affected more than the people taken into custody – and it’s not just the raided homes that are affected, but also the parents, grandparents and partners”.
Ms Porter said it would take a long time before the effects of the raids would subside.
“But it also creates an opportunity to work with the affected women in particular,” she said.
“We hope to work with the wāhine in the meantime and prepare them for the return of their men.”