Ka whawahi tonu mātou, āke āke āke.

Though we in New Zealand may feel like Facism is such a foreign and international concept the very same ideologies and concepts have long been part of the history of New Zealand. I am reminded after the passing of Tā Robert “Bom” Gillies, that within his lifetime, there was a united fight for New Zealand against Facism across the world.

Many young Māori soldiers, much like Tā Robert, went over and sacrificed their safety, comfort, tīnana, and wairua to fight against racial oppression, populism, discrimination. However these words used to describe facism, can just as easily be used to explain colonisation. And so, these soldiers fought tens-of-thousands of kilometers across the earth, in order to fight these very same things at home.
They were sold on the fact that in fighting alon homes, rivers, forests, leading many to question why they left in the first place. Though significant, this is yet just another point in a long history of Māori standing against racial discrimination, and the idea that another nation has more right to take, claim and own the homes, resources of other people.

My thoughts return to the ancestors who stood pono to what they believed. Not far off from where the university is situated is the battle of Orakau in 1864, a final stand by the Maniapoto, Raukawa and Tūhoe tribes against the colonial government at the end of the land wars. Fighting for their land and for the continued freedom or Mana Motuhake of the Māori people.
My ancestors have long stood against racial oppression, discrimination and authoritarianism. Te Mana Motuhake ō Tūhoe e, words long embodied by my tribe who stood against oppression. And have continued to do so to this day.

And so it is clear, that New Zealand has a history of Pseudo-facism many want to bring back to New Zealand. “The good old days”. Days that were very good for some, and less so for others. And so again I am left wondering if Facism was ever left behind. So what I will say is that facism isn’t consigned to history. It is our past, our present, and sadly probably our future. Whether we label it oppression, colonisation, or the Act Party we need to know where we have come from so we can set a course for our future.