An evening of positive conversations in Whakatū Nelson about the Treaty of Waitangi generated significant interest and around 80 local people attended the event.

‘Te Tiriti seen through local eyes’ was the topic for the five speakers, says organisers Chris Hickson and Katie O'Donnell of Tangata Tiriti Aotearoa.

The speakers were Paul Prestige, retired community leader - Nelson City Councillor for Nelson Māori Ward Kahu Paki Paki, Penny Molar QSM, award-winning educator and Founder of Whenua-iti Outdoor Education Centre, Hazel Nash and retired Methodist church leader Reverend Gary Clover.

The free evening was held at the Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre, Main Rd Stoke, on Thursday May 22. It started with cuppa and cake at 6.30pm and the speakers began at 7pm finishing around 9.30 after a Q&A session the organisers report.

MC for the night was Ceara McAuliffe Bickerton who did a wonderful job of bringing the audience along the journey and helping to weave the speakers stories together.

Themes from some of the stories including pearls of wisdom from life experiences, experiences of attending protests and being awhi by the Māori community, how soldiers were treated differently upon returning to New Zealand from WW2 and how land issues sadly unfolded over generations for both Māori and Pākeha, with ongoing consequences today and dating back as far as the New Zealand Company days.

Builder, businessman and artist Kahu Paki Paki (Te Ātiawa) is the first Māori ward councillor for Nelson, elected in the 2022 local government elections. He put the audience at ease sharing his wisdom and encouragement for a positive future in Whakatū, and Aotearoa.

The evening was for everyone but particularly those keen to hear how the Treaty is key to New Zealand’s harmonious future with a clear place to stand for everyone,” Chris said adding, "The next thing is that people will need more information to make an informed decision around the local body referendums".

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