MEDIA RELEASE: Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer’s reckless statements

Image: RNZ Samuel Rillstone

MEDIA RELEASE 13 December 2023

Condemnation of Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer’s reckless statements

The Indigenous Coalition For Israel condemns Te Pāti Māori leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer’s use of the provocative chant “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free”. This is known to be a call for the annihilation of the Jewish state, which is the stated goal of Hamas. 

Ngarewa-Packer continues to use the chant, even after the Jewish community of NZ has made clear the traumatising effect of these words on their community. The Māori Party co-leader also propagates the false accusation that the Jews are colonisers when they have in fact held ahi kaa status in their ancestral land for over 3000 years. 

Ngarewa-Packer’s stance is an insult to thousands of Māori supporters of Israel and the long history of Māori-Jewish friendship. Many of the Māori prophetic movements that arose in the 19th century and early 20th centuries, including Ringatū, Iharaia, Pai Marire, the Parihaka movement, and Ratana, were inspired by the biblical Israelites and even emulated many of their religious practices. The bones of some of our tāne lie in Israel, where they fought and died to help free the land from Ottoman oppression. Māori Queen Dame Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu had great affection for Israel and welcomed many Israeli ambassadors to Turangawaewae Marae. In recent years Israeli ambassadors have been welcomed onto other Marae around the motu. 

All people of goodwill are concerned for the Palestinian people. To lay blame for their plight entirely upon Israel is morally bankrupt, when it is Hamas that started this war with the brutal murder of hundreds of innocent civilians. It is Hamas that continues this war and holds 137 civilians in captivity. It is Hamas that callously uses its own people as human shields. Hamas could have peace tomorrow, if it were willing to renounce its goal of annihilation of the Jewish state.

Further, Ngārewa-Packer's comparison between Māori and Palestinian experience is deeply misguided. It minimizes the suffering of the Palestinians and implicates Māori in an ideology that many find repugnant. 

The people of Gaza live under the repressive rule of Hamas, a radical islamist terrorist group, whose leadership is rife with corruption. Hamas allows no free and fair elections or free media; political opponents are persecuted and sometimes executed; women, LGBT, and the handicapped face discrimination; freedom of religion is restricted; student demonstrations are violently suppressed; child marriage and honour killings are practiced.

The plight of Palestinians and Māori could not be more different.  

We call on Ngarewa-Packer to desist from misusing this painful Middle Eastern conflict for her own political purposes and from bringing shame on our people by aligning with a depraved and genocidal regime. 

Sincerely 

Dr Sheree Trotter, Tapuika Ngati Moko, Tūhourangi, Ngati Whakaue

Hon Alfred Ngaro, Cook Islands

Bradford Haami, Ngāti Awa
Moana Tipa, Ngai Tahu, Kati Mamoe, Ngati Kahungunu
Pastor Mina Acraman, Ngati Whakaue, Te Arawa
Kariana Black-Vercoe, Tuhoe-Ngātihaka-Patuheuheu, Ngāti Raukawa/Ngāti Apa
Kaumatua Te Hurihanga, Ngāpuhi, Te Aka Matua
Richard Nahi, Ngāpuhi, Te Aka Matua
Pastor Tawhiri Littlejohn, Ngāpuhi Me Ngati Whatua, Te Aka Matua 
Darren Gammie, Tainui, Ngapuhi