Parliament

Today the group toured Parliament and met with a wonderful Maori woman name Rahui Katene.  She discussed the organization of Parliament and the impact that the Maori has in Parliament.  It was extremely interesting that the Maori people were the first settlers on New Zealand land and have basically had everything taken from them.  We were able to parallel this with the Native Americans in the Us.  She informed us that until the late 1900's did the Maori people were allowed 4 seats in Parliament.  There is a constant struggle with this because the Maori people feel that they are equal to the Pakeh (non-Maori) and should have equal seating in Parliament. 

We also found it interesting that the Treaty of Waytungi involving the land settlement of the Maori was in two languages and the translation from English to Maori was completely different that the original Maori version.  This creates controversy because each party follows their understanding of the treaty.  We found it ironic that the international law acknowledges the treaty as favoring the Maori version but New Zealand does not follow this law.  

Speaking with one of the representative of the house, a native Maori, described to us that the Maori people feel that they are one with the earth and sky and do not put claim and ownership on their land and are even unfamiliar with this concept.  We found it interesting that in the US we have to put monetary value on everything we own.  They cherish the land and respect the land as if it is part of their person where as we treat it like it is our playground and continue to diminish the land.  Makes one reconsider the value of our surroundings....

More to come!

Stef, Shelly, and Laura