Formed in 1981, under the leadership of Jackson Smith, MPIAC (now the CTU's Te Runanga O Kamahi Maori O Aoteoroa) served as a meeting place and coordinating body for some of the countries most well known Maori activists. Several SUP members served on the committee, as did Syd Jackson, his second wife Deidre Nehua, Atareta Poananga, Bill Hamilton (later a leader of Mana Motuhake and the Alliance Party) and Niko Tangaroa, later a leader of the 1995 Moutua Gardens occupation.
Often working with MPIAC, SUP members and supporters worked to influence the Maori community towards "progressive" action at every opportunity. Some examples include;
Henry Te Karu Originally with the Wairarapa Meatworkers Union, Te Karu visited the Soviet Union in 1981. Te Karu told the SUP's Tribune of the 2nd of October 1989 that he was organising a new venture to open up channels between the Wairarapa CTU Runanga and the Marae committees of the area, adding "I think we'll see the similarity of trade union and Maori struggles."
In 1990 he was working working from the Masterton office of the Iwi Transition Agency for Ngati Kahungunu (New Zealand's third largest Maori tribe).
Pat Shepherd From the SUP controlled Auckland Unemployed Workers Union, Shepherd worked with Auckland Maori on anti pollution campaigns in the Manakau Harbour. In 1986 he joined several Maori comrades on a trip to the Soviet Union to "witness the Leninist nationalities policy in practice"
Anna Meihana (aka Mason) In the late '80s a volunteer worker with the the SUP/Workers Communist League controlled Wellington Unemployed Workers Union.
Of Maori/Irish descent, Meihana had been jailed by the British in Northern Ireland in 1978 for taking photos of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Back in New Zealand, before joining the SUP, she was involved in the Waitangi Action Committee and in 1982 was arrested at Bastion Point.
In the mid '80s she worked on Maori self-determination issues with Unemployed workers organisation, Te Roopu Rawakore.
Involved in the pro Irish Republican group, Information on Ireland, Meihana told the Dominion Sunday Times of 11th of February 1988, "The Irish cause is the Maori cause. The Maori fight in New Zealand is basically the same, only it is yet to reach a military stage like Ireland."
John Price A European (married to a Maori) PSA official and SUP supporter in Rotorua, Price was involved in a dispute at the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in Whakarewarewa in 1988.
In the same year he wrote in the SUP's theoretical journal, "Socialist Politics" "In my extensive activities on Rotorua Marae, I never stop being a Trade Unionist. On the Marae I discuss working class issues and discuss them in their class context."
Price worked closely with Mana Motuhake activists, the Iwi Transition Agency and the local Polytech, promoting Maori "Business Studies".
Kia Ora Comrades.
ReplyDeleteIf these particular activists have helped further the cause of righting the wrongs done to Maori since colonisation, then more power to them I say.
Had The ruling elite of past administrations shown some considerations to the plight of maori then perhaps the radicals need not have sought help from the communists.
I live in the old electorate of Pahiatua which was once the heartland of the Keith Holyoake era. True blue national seat this place was. You could count the labour voters on your left hand on a dark night. A place where Maori knew their place and it was in the shearing gangs and meat works serving their land of gentry masters.
Times have changed. Thanks to the efforts of many of these " Maori radicals", Jack has fast become as good as his master.
ka Kite Ano
Dirk.
I digressed. The thought of dinner (roast chicken and veges) lead me by the nose.
ReplyDeleteI first met Bill Hamilton When he was the headmaster of the very small and remote country school at Makuri, North Wairarapa. That was about 79-80. I was on the run from a wicked past. But thats another story.
I never thougt much of Bills teaching ability. But i think that was my personal prejudice against school teachers. Though many thought it racially based.
He quit that post a couple of years later.
It was my impression he was always trying to suck up to the rich farmers. I think they patronised him, rather than accepted him. He did after all, have a "touch of the tar brush" in him as it was explained to me years later.
The last I heard about Bill was a couple of years ago when he was interviewed on National radio about a resturant with a pacific flavour which he had opened on Napiers Marine Parade.
I always intended to visit and sample the Kina dish he raved about.
The article just reminded me about it. Aint life strange?
Dirk.