20 Mar 2015

Ngati Hine vow to stamp out violence

7:48 pm on 20 March 2015

The Ngāpuhi hapū of Ngāti Hine has vowed to stamp out violence amongst its people.

Kapa haka performers on stage at the Te Ahuareka o Ngati Hine festival at Otiria Marae near Whangarei.

Kapa haka performers on stage at the recent Te Ahuareka o Ngati Hine festival. Photo: Ngati Hine FM

The Rūnanga made the pledge at the recent Ngāti Hine Festival held at Ōtiria Marae near Whangārei, which celebrated tribal identity.

During the two day event it launched the campaign, E Tū Whānau, which called on its people not to tolerate violence in their whānau.

175 years on since the sacking of Russell, and the outbreak of war in the North, the chair of the Runanga, Waihoroi Shortland, said to push home the message it had adopted the parting wish or ōhāki of one of its ancestors, Kawiti.

He said Kawiti told the hapū that it was time to trample war under their feet, takahia te riri ki raro i o waewae.

Mr Shortland said it wanted to use the phrase because it talked about people setting aside their anger and to never go there again.

Waihoroi Shortland said it would drive the message of no tolerance everywhere, including speaking about it on Marae and calling on Ngāti Hine organisations such as its Māori health centre to uphold the message.

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