NGĀPUHI WOMAN LAUNCHES MĀORI PLAY GROUP INITIATIVE IN THE PILBARA TO CELEBRATE WAITANGI DAY

BY TANGIORA HINAKI

Today is Waitangi Day, marking the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. The treaty is often called New Zealand’s founding document, but its interpretation has long been contested. Many Māori believe they were misled into signing, arguing that differences in translation led to the loss of land and self-rule.

Tamson Beale, a Ngāpuhi woman living in the Pilbara, is launching Kaiako Māori Australia this Saturday (8 February). The initiative, focused on supporting Māori educators and whānau, will be celebrated during local Waitangi events.

“You look around and see that Waitangi is a big deal everywhere,” Beale said. “We celebrate our unity and rangatiratanga and highlight the significance of Te Tiriti in modern Aotearoa. It’s not just a historical document. It’s a living agreement that needs continuous protection and respect from everyone, including the government.”

Beale criticised recent policies in New Zealand that she says threaten decades of progress in recognising Māori rights, language, and culture. “When you see government policy dismantling Māori institutions and removing policies that uphold Te Tiriti, it undermines the principles of partnership and equality the treaty was meant to establish.”

For Beale, Kaiako Māori Australia is a way to support Māori identity and culture while living away from Aotearoa. “I’ve always been passionate about my culture. Since moving to Australia 15 years ago, all my businesses have been about embracing my people. I ran a catering business on the Gold Coast focused on whānau and whanaungatanga. Then I started a family daycare. Kaiako Māori Australia grew from that.”

The initiative is focused on early learning but also aims to create a strong support network. “Our identity is deeply tied to our language, traditions, and whenua,” Beale said. “For those raising tamariki in Australia, keeping that connection can be hard. I want to help Māori kaiako connect, collaborate, and support each other.”