We are excited to announce Matike Tāhono, a monthly reading group series covering Matike Mai Aotearoa’s crucial work on constitutional transformation: ‘He Whakaaro Here Whakaumu Mō Aotearoa’.

We love collective learning experiences,and know that having space to pose questions and engage with ideas as a rōpū strengthens learning for all. We have developed Matike Tāhono as an informal, guided program for the next six months to meet others and discuss the report when its content is perhaps most important.

What is Matike Mai Aotearoa?

Matike Mai Aotearoa, the Independent Working Group (the Group) on Constitutional Transformation, was first promoted at a meeting of the Iwi Chairs’ Forum (the Forum) in 2010. The Terms of Reference given to the Working Group were deliberately broad:

“To develop and implement a model for an inclusive Constitution for Aotearoa based on tikanga and kawa, He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Niu Tireni of 1835, Te Tiriti o Waitangi of 1840, and other indigenous human rights instruments which enjoy a wide degree of international recognition”.

Matike Mai Aotearoa have developed a range of working resources, though perhaps the most well-known is He Whakaaro Here Whakaumu Mō Aotearoa, their report on constitutional transformation for Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Matike Mai is a commitment to human values such as the value of place and belonging, of community, of tikanga, and of balance. It speaks of building structures for finding ways through conflict, rather through trying to beat your adversary.

What is He Whakaaro Here Whakaumu Mō Aotearoa?

He Whakaaro Here Whakaumu is the report covering the findings from the Matike Mai Aotearoa working group. The Working Group was established at a Iwi Chairs’ Forum meeting in 2010 through nomination by Iwi and other organisations or co-option. It was chaired by Professor Margaret Mutu and convened by Moana Jackson. The Chairperson and Convenor facilitated 252 hui between 2012 and 2015. The rōpū rangatahi convened by Veronica Tawhai presented 70 wānanga.

The topics from the 252 hui covered a range of topics such as the relationship between Te Tiriti and democracy, what is meant by a treaty relationship, what is a constitution, and other related issues such as:

• The meaning of tikanga and its constitutional relevance.
• The relationship between the Hapū referred to in Te Tiriti and the current Crown policy emphasis on Iwi.
• The effects of increasing immigration on the Tiriti relationship.
• The ongoing implications of the emigration of our people overseas.
• How to engage with others to progress the kaupapa.

The report traverses the rich and complex tapestry of the conversation findings and attempts to translate the kōrero about the nature, foundations and values of a constitution into a vision for constitutional transformation.