Nga Tamatoa

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Nga Tamatoa (the young warriors) was a Maori activist group from the early 1970s until 1979, and existed to fight threats to Maori culture and confront injustices perpetrated by the New Zealand Government, particularly violations of the Treaty of Waitangi.

It emerged through a conference at the University of Auckland organised by the academic Ranginui Walker and consisted of a group of mainly urban and educated Maori, and took offense at the continuing confiscation of land and degradation of the Maori language. The group took inspiration from liberation and indigenous movements across the world.

Members of the organisation included health worker and activist Tame Iti and Syd Jackson. One of the incidents the organisation was involved in was breaking up the University of Auckland "waka party" an annual event where engineering students would parody Maori culture.

The group initiated the annual protests at Waitangi on Waitangi Day, after Prime Minister Norman Kirk changed the name of the day to 'New Zealand Day'. The group claimed that the "Treaty is a fraud", because of the ongoing breaches committed by the Government. The day had until then been seen by most New Zealanders as a day of celebration. Waitangi protests grew to include much of the Maori community and have had a significant influence to the present day.

References

Ranginui Walker, Nga Tau Tohetohe-Years of Anger, Auckland, 1987

Ranginui Walker, Ka Whawhai Tonu Matou-Struggle Without End, Auckland, 1990

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