Greg Fortuin, New Zealand’s race relations concilliator from 2001 to 2002, presented a guest lecture recently to 150 Whitireia staff and guests on the topic ‘Living Te Tiriti now.’
“Bi-cultural identity is about our national DNA,” said Gregory Fortuin. He proposed a small and focussed Nation Building Commission tasked with developing and leading a plan of action for nationbuilding. “I recognise the courage of past and present Prime Ministers on either side of the political spectrum for embarking and continuing on a path of healing the wounds of the past and building a future together. It is time to seek agreement on an inclusive vision and boldly map the way forward.”
The Hon. Tariana Turia, Minister of The Community and Voluntary Sector and Disability Issues, warmed the room with comments on her ‘activist’ past, before discussing the foreshore and seabed issue. “We’ve been able to ensure that nobody feels they don’t have a place there, on the foreshore,” she said. We need to understand the generosity of spirit of the iwi, who accept 3% of what was taken from them.”
Roger Sowry, Whitireia and Weltec Council Chairperson, Aka Arthur and Taku Parai, Ngati Toa Kaumatua, completed the engaging presentations in time for a warm and friendly breakfast on a cold midwinter morning.
Every year Ngati Toa and Whitireia mark the Ngāti Toa signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This year Whitireia staff and guests enjoyed the lecture and breakfast from the award winning library at Whitireia, as dawn illuminated the maunga Whitireia through the broad windows behind the speakers.
