E te whatukura e wehe atu nei, ko tērā o ngā ngākau māhaki o tātou, ko koe tērā e Moana.
He toka tū moana koe, te tangata kaha ana ki te whawhai mō tātou Ngāi Māori, nō reira kua ea tō mahi i waenganui i a mātou. Hoki atu rā ki ngā mātua tīpuna, ki a rātou kua wehe I mua I a koe, ko Sid rāua ko June tērā. Koutou hoki ngā tini mate o tēnā rohe, o tēnā marae, o tēnā whānau, tēnei e mihia, tēnei e tangihia, tēnei e poroporoakitia, nō reira haere, haere, oti atu rā.
The Green party is acknowledging the loss of a Te Ao Māori mentor, Dr Moana Jackson (Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou). We are grieving alongside the country and the world today.
Moana was a fierce advocate for Māori tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake, reforming the criminal justice system, and decolonisation.
Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson reflects on the impact Moana left not only on Māori, but on the whole of Aotearoa.
“Moana was a mentor to so many across the motu. He bravely challenged structural and institutional racism, advocating for an Aotearoa that was decolonised and re-indigenised.”
“Moana always spoke not just truth to power, but truth about our power as Māori because he knew what was right for Māori, was right for everyone.”
“As a young wāhine Māori activist he offered me direct encouragement over the years, reminding me to ignore the rubbish that gets thrown at us when we challenge racism. Now as a politician I always looked towards Moana’s work and words. He inspired not only me, but generations of Māori because he was known as one of our big thinkers and giants in the collective work for Māori political aspirations.”
“I feel privileged to be a Te Mātāwaka member as we are now left to continue his kaupapa of constitutional transformation, a great responsibility that we will ensure we uphold.”
“While his death brings great sadness. Moana’s legacy will live on in the many generations of people who endeavour to continue the kaupapa of decolonising our country.”
“Our love and thoughts are with Moana’s whānau during this time.”
Nō reira e te rangatira, takoto mai, e moe, takoto mai rā.
