New Zealand’s Maori King Tuheitia has refused to meet Prince William and Catherine during their royal tour of the country next month, saying that he is “not some carnival act to be rolled out at the beck and call of anyone”.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be visiting New Zealand on 7-16 April with their young son George, but King Tuheitia’s office rejected the offer to meet with them, arguing the 90 minutes allotted is not long enough to observe the proper protocols.
Prime Minister John Key said he was disappointed by the snub, but King Tuheitia’s office blamed it on the inflexibility of “faceless bureaucrats” who organised the trip, and that they were not prepared to compromise their customs to fit into a predetermined schedule.
55 Comments
If he’s not a carnival act why’s he acting like a clown?
Tell him that to his face, keyboard warrior.
niiiice.
Love it!!
Buckeye Bozo…..it’s called not putting on a dog and pony show for people like YOU!
Good for him.
York, Cambridge…… wherever
Great, it’s about time the Royals got to publicly face the contempt they deserve from native peoples of the world. Could be a sign the Windsor influence is coming to an end, consigning them and their disgraceful acts to the rubbish bin of history. (think Mountbatten in India, the Queen and Philip’s visit to Canada when a number of native children allegedly went missing under their care, etc)
The King’s point is unassailable. Popping into the marae for 90 minutes would be the same as attending a performance of Beethoven’s 9th and leaving in the middle of the second movement. It is appalling that the people organising the tour have so little knowledge of Maori protocol that they made this ridiculous suggestion.
A true King!
well done.
I agree with him. It’s not “snubbing” – it is respect for tikanga. I am glad he is standing up for himself. Why ‘trot out’ Maori culture, like a kitsch tourist token, to visiting Royals, rather than properly respect the culture?
DECOLONIZE THE WORLD
what does that mean exactly?
Colonization means that white people have repeatedly taken over the land of Brown and Black people, as well as participated in their slavery and murder. Then we white people claim that all of the oppression done is in the past, that it has been undone. But clearly, the Windsors do not see the Maori royalty as equals if their staff did not even do enough research on their traditions to know that a meet-and-greet would take longer than an hour and a half. Decolonization means that the Windsor royalty would have much more respect, knowledge, and courtesy for the Maori royalty. Decolonization means that the Windsors would have less entitlement over the Maori’s timely traditions.
It probably wasn’t the Windsors’ staff. The fault here probably lies with the office off the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
The Maori do not claim ownership of new Zealand. They are well aware that their ancestors came from Polynesia and that new Zealand has no native human life.
So both the dutch, Maori and British technically never belonged on the island
What a load of progressive crap! EVERY race with power has colonised and enslaved and most African slaves came from Africans. But if you are a PC sucking leftist, then what has truth to do with it? I find it so funny that if the whites are so much to blame for all of the world’s evils then all of you “racists” go back to hunter gathering and shut up.
The one real point here, missed by most, is that the Maoris were NOT defeated by the British unlike all others (except the Afghans but no one really wanted that place anyway) but fought to a draw and the ONLY nation to do so and that is no little source of pride and right to them.
When the Brits returned control of India and when the European nations left Africa, Asia and the Caribbean so indigenous people could decide their own lives, that was the beginning of decolonization. The end of strong nations telling weaker ones how they want to utilize thir countries resources. Slavery of an entire nation.
There are still countries in Africa that are still forced to pay colonial tax despite having independence. Decolonisation seems pretty much not happening properly.
http://www.siliconafrica.com/france-colonial-tax/
Communication failure. Meeting together could have been mutually positive. Whomever is organizing travel plans should hire a skilled cross-cultural liaison to re-check with New Zealand’s Maori King Tuheitia. Find out more in detail how to respect cultural protocols and successfully proceed to organize a meeting. Find out under what terms the King and Maori people would be suitable and culturally respectful. Consider a private meeting. Negotiate. Catherine and William would only benefit from direct exposure to Maori culture. They seem like open minded people who genuinely are interested in the well-being of others. They should be given the opportunity, and would use their knowledge and experience beneficially. Don’t let negative angry pride and animosity stop a positive cultural pride from being expressed and shared. Acknowledge harms and hurts of colonialism while also remembering: We are one human family.
While you have made some salient points, perhaps understandably you have made it from the perspective of a white person who inevitably cries “We are one human family!” Again, it is the response that smacks of patronization, condescension and “white” know-it-all assumptions that it was “pride based on anger, hurt and animosity” that kept the Maori king from meeting him when the most basic fact is: he didn’t have to meet with them if he didn’t want to. No other reason.
He might have had previous plans, or simply no desire to. Why should he have to? Why should he be guilted, shamed or have accusations of “Pride” attributed to him by assumptive people like you as to his motivations?
While I am a progressive, educated and world traveled indigenous person from the North American continent, I am absolutely sick of people like you telling indigenous people what they should do, “get over” and when and where to do it. Why do you think you have the right to condescend and tell us what we should do? The level of inherent arrogance and privilege is truly sickening.
“you have made it from the perspective of a white person who inevitably cries “We are one human family!””
So just because she has this perspective, she must be white? Or anyone who shares this perspective must be white? There’s a word for that kind of discrimination, isn’t there? I think it starts with an ‘r’….
That’s called looking at their picture and researching them before I posted a reply. I was addressing the person who posted this response, and that’s what they are. And my point doesn’t change despite your skewed questions: any white person who responds with that type of arrogant, patronizing, know-it-all condescension I find tiresome.
To answer your ignorant questions directly: 1) No, she expressed this perspective and she is white. Those two things coinceded in this instance.
2) One doesn’t have to be white to have that perspective. Any one from any race can be arrogant, condescending and patronizing.
3) I didn’t discriminate. Please look up the definition of the word.
A few quotes from “The Last Real Indian” website (look it up, you’ll be all kinds of new offended because they don’t accept such either). It addresses what you’ve attempted to do and which I reject utterly as an indigenous person strongly opposed to post-colonism. I do not have a colonized mind, nor do I let people like you attempt to chain my speech or spirit.
• With a colonized mind, I feel as though I am swearing when I say “white people” in front of white people.
• With a colonized mind, I deny my heritage and proudly say, “We are all just people.”
• With a colonized mind, when discussing issues pertaining to race, I try desperately not to offend white people.
I appreciate everything you’ve posted and wish I had the patience for it. I pretty quickly start typing in all caps and start quoting my favorite rap lyrics when talking to white people on the internet.
George Machado, I almost shot coffee out my nose while reading that. So funny.
I completely agree with you Red Haircrow, I am white, and not proud of the past and how my country has behaved. I believe ALL indigenous peoples should be handed their countries back and live on, in and with them as they so wish, and white people should keep their opinions and actions to themselves.
and where will you live then Sarah?
Who said Sarah would have to leave ?
OMg you can’t even get her name right ….?
Sorry Susan. ( not Sarah)
Tautoko tenei whakaaro
I can’t say that members of the royal family may really care personally, only accept whatever “shows” their staff set up for them to see, but you wish they might comprehend why this is taking place. It is happening because it can finally now take place, which is extremely important, and I am proud of them. In the past, the Maoris might have been sanctioned, penalized, threatened, or injured/killed if they didn’t show proper fealty towards the nation/society that invaded their land and made them the minority in their own country.
Was this before or after the maori invaded absorbed the culture of the [previous inhabitants of the land and canabalised them
If you go back far enough in history in any country, any region, any land, you will find similar. I was speaking on the Maori culture and the British who invaded. Such a question as yours is the tired semi-rhetorical type that actually proves no point despite the fact you think it does.
actually it started with whalers and sealers settling in to practice their trade , and they married the local women and joined the haupu , then missionaries decided that was their next mission ground , followed by maori cheiftons buying up weapons from australia , hiring ships from captains and then going on an all out blood bath(te maori mana) , and a little adventure of slaughtering a crew of french sailors and the maori requested by way of the missionaries to be put under the mana of the brittish as they feared french reprisals
Aaron C Torkil. You are one of those really annoying people who pick and choose from our history and culture and try to simplify everything to fit in with the low view you have of us ( and to lift your own low self esteem).
Such a know-it-all with so little knowledge at all.
“Seafood and what could be picked up from the surf” -our favourite food and I’m sure many of us wish it could be “just picked up from the surf”.
Also this case illustrates why there needed to be legislation to ensure the survival of maori , the evil white government put in place ways to ensure the survival of the maori people as you were at risk of going exstint
COMMENT EDITED: Please keep discussions civil. – Mod.
So sorry future monarch of the late empire on which the sun never sets the most powerful royal family on the pleasant … I will not take the time to see you because I feel the need to dance around in a grass skirt and follow pre stone age tribal customs because this is important to us …f –off…
You see TRUE maori were somewhat more flexible and switched from their culture to accept new ways of the white man … they gave up war to grow flax created industries and became apart of the global community… but their descendents are so comfortable on their welfare check and treasured status of zoo pets of the nation that they can afford to snub the future king of the commonwealth.
Look at the aboriginals of australia , or the pigmi”s of africa .. or the more modarn case of Tibet vs china…
You have no idea how lucky you are and also rude , royalty is about rising above the situation and being spokesmen for your people…what a dolt
you’ve never been chased through the street by a black power wannabe gangster
What is the Moari King what is he King of …. the creation of the
“maori King” voids the treaty of W for any iwi that took on his mantle
… and so null and void here … in the case of the iwi which did not
sign the treaty , I accept they did not surrender their sovereignty and
should be considered independent states and have their land returned to
them … and also be able to deal directly in business and not have to
sell land through the crown only. But back to the “king issue” who is he
the king of … maori never ever had a king , you have each iwi which
is it’s own autonomous state/nation and even the word “maori” is
arbitrary (normal ones) and the “maori” created the “maori king” in order
to copy the europeans … so if he is a king modeled after a european
institution should he follow the rules of such copy written institution
and observed its rites over his own …how many maori ceo’s would you
see go into talks with an american company and demand full protocols be
observed …because he is a ceo … which is an adopted institution that
he has signed up for … just as the position of king is … and so no
the maori Rangatira should not have slobbed a royal visit on offer!
It’s a matter of good graces …if he was wearing the mantle of Rangatira he would be within his rights but as king … sigh
to the moderator if your going to delete my replies you may as well delete his comments as well I believed this to be an open forum and we are both new zealanders and are adults.
and fyi the maori welcomed the “pakeha” as they came with tools , trade Christianity and new idea’s and many maori parents would deliberately hide their culture from their children so it would die out… before europeans arrived the food choices were , a few barely edible plants , seafood and what could be picked up from the surf , birds, bugs and the neighboring tribe.
Unlike native americans their culture wasn’t particularly civil , they lived in fear of being invaded eaten and taken as slaves , tribal alliances were one of who was dominant over the other.
90 minutes? And it is expected at whatever time suits the visiting guests?
Apparently whoever approached the king did so with the assumption that the ‘royals’ were doing him a favor…..and he has set them straight in that HE is the native and they are visitors, and if they wish to be received, they need to ask courteously and be willing to meet the acceptable standards of behavior…..not impose their own. The ‘royals’ were presumably after a photo-op rather than a genuine meeting…..and the king was spot on in denying them the illusion.
Wae stin sin sah sa la went tah ka the layeth. Tenempt kie. Tenempt que. We receive the help when our hearts and minds are open. The power of the Healing Love heals all things. Peace within self, peace within community. E hych kah Si Cel Siam, Thanks be to Great Mystery.
Thomas Banyaca, Hopi prophet shared after a ceremony for the homeless in downtown Seattle for the homeless native people: It is it the women, the women who must speak now.
Vi Hilbert, Taqsheblu, Coast Salish elder shared with those who would listen: “Your home is your heart. Open the doors of your home and share with the people. Share what you have. You always have a home.”
We are born in this world naked. With nothing. The earth, and everything on it belongs not to any human. It is all a gift. We are here to give thanks, to appreciate, to heal ourselves. To help others. When we leave, we take nothing with us.
I carry the Tlingit name Ka Aw Diggan of Raven Clan, a name coming from Mother of All Ravens.
To hell with the royal family. They are the biggest benefits scroungers in Britain, not the working poor. Them and most of the MPs in Parliament are all crooks. This is the 21st, the world doesn’t need some bunch of people of “royal blood” who “rule over” the country and sovereign states and doesn’t give a wits about the problems of the world. The world is in a mess because of the neo-feudalism of the 1% elites such as the corporations and rich people.
By that logic, get rid of the maori king as well.
FYI, British government is heavily subsided by the Queen’s personal finances. Without them there would be far more poor people.
I wonder what it’s like to be British royalty and experience mainly false interactions where everyone is overly nice to you and you are taken on whirlwind tours of things never staying in one place long enough to find any truth or make any real connections. If I were Prince William I’d apologize, clear an entire day and ask again personally as a sign of respect.
It is so typical of the British Royals and their sycophants. They insist, without any critical examination, on their traditions being followed, and disrespect the traditions of their hosts, especially if they are indigenous people. King Tuheitia is well within his rights and the rules of protocol, to insist that his people’s customs be followed when meeting another head of State.
Good for the Maori nation and King Tuheitia. Let us put an end to colonialism and colonialist practices in New Zealand, Puerto Rico (with respect to the US) and wherever colonial subordination is prevalent.
Amen. Good for the King for standing his ground. If he went to visit the Queen of England he would probably not even be allowed HERprecious time. Besides, the “royals” need to be brought down a peg or 2. They are visitors and should abide by New Demands customs and time frame, not the other way around.
Finally. Someone put the “royals” in their place. Thank you my King.
I agree with Maori leaders.. It’s not snubbing it’s having respect for all other customs and traditions. I am very glad that he stood up for himself and his people! The organizer for the royal family should be a bit more efficient in their intel in the customs, traditions, and protocols of other nations, and the royal family should be making certain that their representatives are doing their jobs correctly. To gain respect you must first give respect!