Waitangi Day 2025
By Shannon Bell, Program Manager – Le Mana Pasifika Project
CMY acknowledges Waitangi Day — a time to reflect on the strength of Māori, the ongoing fight for tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty), and the deep responsibilities that come with Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi).
Before Te Tiriti was signed on 6 February 1840, Te Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (1835) affirmed Māori sovereignty. It was not a declaration of independence, but a formal recognition of the authority Māori already held over their lands, communities, and governance. Despite this, the systemic inequities continue to impact Māori communities to this day. The actions of governments are critical to ensuring their continued accountability to the Te Tiriti.
As an organisation committed to supporting Māori and Pasifika young people, through the Le Mana Pasifika Project, CMY recognises the importance of upholding Indigenous sovereignty and ensuring that Māori identity, culture, and leadership remain central in decision-making spaces. The challenge of navigating both cultural values and modern-day expectations is a reality many Indigenous communities face. This duality is not a weakness, but a strength — one that brings richness, resilience, and an unwavering connection to identity.
We also recognise that our work takes place on the unceded lands of First Nations peoples. Our commitment to Māori and Pasifika young people does not exist in isolation — it is deeply connected to the fight for justice and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The success of Māori and Pasifika people in Naarm will not come at the cost of our Aboriginal whānau. Their success is our success. We stand together in solidarity, ensuring that all Indigenous voices, histories, and futures remain at the forefront.
As beautifully put by one of the young people connected to the Le Mana Pasifika Project:
“Waitangi Day reminds me that being Māori isn’t just about the past—it’s about who we are today and who we’ll be tomorrow. We carry the strength of our tūpuna, but we still have to fight to be heard, to be seen, and to have our voices valued. Te Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti were meant to protect our mana, yet we’re still having to prove our worth. Here in Naarm, we stand with our Aboriginal whānau because their struggle is our struggle. Our cultures, our histories, and our futures matter. We’re still here, and we’re not going anywhere.”
Further reading:
Books of Mana: 10 Essential Reads for Waitangi Day – The Conversation