Tūhoe artist and activist Tame Iti reflects on the production of the recently released film Muru and his I Will Not Speak Māori exhibition in an extensive interview with RNZ's Kim Hill.
On Friday night, Tame Iti was announced as one of seven 2022 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates, which "celebrate and empower New Zealand's most outstanding artists".
It comes at a busy time for Tame Iti. He has been painting the words 'I Will Not Speak Māori' (and then crossing the 'not' out) up large on Wellington's waterfront. These were the words a young Iti was forced to write out at school, driving his passion for Te Reo to be widely spoken.
Tama Iti's "I Will Not Speak Māori" exhibition. Photo: Troy Baker
'When you've committed your life there for 60 odd years... I think it's time for me to put that aside' - Tame Iti
I Will Not Speak Māori is part of Te Hui Ahurei Reo Māori, a festival celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition being presented to Parliament. Iti was there back in 1972, part of a three week parliament tent sit-in with Ngā Tamatoa.
Iti’s project also includes a collaboration with Delaney Davidson at The Engine Room at Massey University and Suite Gallery in Wellington, and a poster campaign nationwide.
All this at the same time as the release in cinemas nationwide of Tearepa Kahi's Muru, a cinematic response to the 2007 Tūhoe police raids, in which Tame Iti stars.
Tame Iti stars in the recently released film "Muru", a cinematic response to the 2007 Tūhoe police raids. Photo: Supplied
Iti told Kim Hill the production of the film required extensive conversations with iwi and hapū, as the raids remained a contentious issue among parts of the community.
"It was a lot of work, a lot of conversation because there had been another part of it and I know some people have let it go, some people are still kind of traumtatised by it, and so we really had to kind of treat it so we're not stepping on landmines in our community," Iti said.
The movie, which was "inspired" by the raids, was not a completely accurate portrayal of events but rather an artistic condensation of 200 years of police oppression towards the Māori people, he said.
"We're not just talking about what happened on the particular day. What happened in the last 200 years of our history and their behaviour and attitude and everything - undermining who we are," he said.
With a range of creative projects underway, the 70-year-old kaumātua explained he had taken a step back from iwi politics now that Tūhoe had taken control of Te Urewera as established in the settlement with the Crown eight years ago.
"The real challenge for us really is determining what Tūhoe looks like in the 21st century ... we shifted from that time 200 years ago and now here we are."
"I think for me, there's a time for me to move and do things ... giving the freedom to do the things that I want to do. And when you've committed your life there for 60-odd years, and committed to the movement, committed to the language, committed to the iwi, to the hapū, I think it's time for me to put that aside."
However, the 70-year-old said this step was a far cry from retiring, saying he felt healthier than ever and that he was filled with creative passion.