Te Roopu Tautoko Angered By “Triad Of Evil” Claims

Te Roopu Tautoko, the Maori advisory committee of the Aotearoa Tertiary Students’ Association (ATSA), is outraged at Donna Awatere Huata’s claims that a triad of evil exists between the rituals of the marae, family abuse and the predominance of gangs.

“This must be an election year, as it is usually at this time that such senseless and inflammatory articles begin to appear,” said Te Roopu Tautoko Chair Waireka Crawford.

Te Roopu Tautoko instead believes that it is the drift away from the marae that has resulted in increased violence, sexism and degradation of women within Maori society.

“Statistics speak for themselves,” stated Crawford. “Maori have suffered greatly since we have moved away from the marae.”

“As my Kuia explained to me, seating women on the floor behind men is to ensure their safety as the Whare Tangata. While women today do not need to be protected from an ope taua (war party), we honour our Tupuna by preserving practices such as these.”

“It saddens me that Maori cultural values are being condemned by one of my own relations who seems to have forgotten why things are the way they are,” concluded Crawford. “If Donna Awatere Huata wants to gain votes for this year’s election, she should forget the sensationalist articles and instead focus on the real issues for Maori.”

ENDS

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