An important step toward reconciliation and cultural understanding was achieved at a multi-community gathering held at Trust Waikato in Hamilton over the weekend.
On Saturday, former Te Pāti Māori president Che Wilson presented a pounamu (greenstone) named Te Aroha to the South Asian and Indian communities.
The greenstone was received by Jujhar Singh Randhawa, president of the Indian Cultural Society Waikato, organiser of a hui that brought the Māori, Indian and wider South Asian communities together under one roof.
Wilson had earlier apologised to the Sikh community for his involvement in a controversial haka that was performed during the Tainui Regional Kapa Haka competition in April, which appeared to mock Indian cultural practices.
The group behind the performance, Te Whānau o Te Pae Kahurangi, had also clarified at the time that the haka was intended to take aim at ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar and not the Indian community.
Parmar was targeted, according to Te Whānau o Te Pae Kahurangi, for seeking advice on imprisonment for the performance of another haka by Māori MPs in Parliament last year, as well as her attack on Māori-focused roles, courses and spaces at the University of Auckland.
The hui, organised by the Indian Cultural Society Waikato on Saturday, brought Māori, Indian and wider South Asian communities under one roof. Photo: Jujhar Singh Randhawa
Organisers of the gathering in Hamilton last weekend said Wilson, in his address to the gathering, acknowledged the importance of the moment and reinforced a commitment to open engagement and mutual respect.
Indian community leaders present at the hui expressed their appreciation for the initiative, praising Wilson for engaging with sincerity and taking meaningful steps forward.
"This [greenstone presentation] represents ... a symbolic doorway to lasting peace and connection, grounded in aroha and mutual respect," Randhawa said.
"The hui reflected a shared commitment to ensuring differences are addressed through respectful kōrero," he said.
"The hui followed constructive engagement aimed at turning recent challenges into an opportunity for dialogue, learning and unity."
Another speaker on the day, Sarkaw Randhawa, highlighted the shared values of Māori and South Asian communities, including respect for elders, strong family systems and cultural traditions.
Recalling the hurt the haka incident caused within the community, she called for dialogue between communities.
"Let's acknowledge the hurt caused and use it as a reminder of how important it is to understand and respect each other's cultures," she said.
-RNZ
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