At 1pm this afternoon Te Paati Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer will be receiving the petition of Josiah Tualamali’i and Benji Timu, ‘Apologise for the ‘Dawn Raids’ and enable education in Aotearoa about them’, on the steps of Parliament.

The petition asks that New Zealand formally acknowledge and reflect on the impacts of the historic ‘Dawn Raids’ policies. Te Pāti Māori support this call to further promote education and understanding about the impacts of the Dawn Raids.

After a request put forward by Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Business Committee yesterday, it was decided that on Thursday the 1st of July, a special debate on the Dawn Raids will be set down for 1 hour, after oral questions, in the New Zealand House of Parliament.

“The 50 year anniversary of the Polynesian Panther Party marks a time of reflection for Aotearoa” said Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

“The 1970s was a dark period of our history and for tangata moana in Aotearoa. As tangata whenua we have been clear about our support for their fight for liberation.

“We stand in solidarity with the Pacific community and our shared experiences of historic mistreatment, profiling and discrimination by the NZ Police” said Mrs Ngarewa-Packer.

“The government apology is one thing, but where to from here? As tangata moana and tangata whenua we must unite, it is the moana that connects us. We have an obligation as tangata whenua to look after our relations, it’s a matter of manaaki, because that’s what whanaunga do” said Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi.

“Te Paati Māori acknowledge the hugely significant community and grass-roots work of the Polynesian Panthers, exemplifying peaceful strike and protest action in their activism,” said Mr Waititi.

[ENDS]

Media contact:
Himiona Grace, 021 861 051

Authorised by Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, Parliament Buildings, Wellington