Iwi lead panacea process as Parliament grounds reopen

A cool, bleak midweek morning in Wellington is not everyone’s cup of tea, but for the community who live and work in and around Parliament, today’s ceremony was restorative.

Two weeks on from the violent culmination of a 23-day occupation of Parliament grounds by protesters, the grounds have been partially reopened to the public while a process of reflection and healing is underway, a panacea to the angry heat and noise of the tent city blockade.

Kura Moeahu, Parliament's Tumu Whakarae, offered a mihi whakatau as representatives of Parliament and Te Ātiawa Taranaki Whānui with the Kingitanga and the local Wellington community, as well as students from nearby schools, and the heads of Police, gathered at Parliament's steps this morning for Te Whakapiki Mōuri – a ceremony to restore the mana of the land and continue the healing process following the recent protest action.

After the chaos of March 2nd, Parliament’s forecourt and obliterated lawns resembled a rubbish dump. It's going to take some time for grass to grow again.

As the dust settled on the occupation, the removal of hazards got underway, along with  police efforts to gather evidence. On March 6th, the restoration of the Parliamentary precinct began with a dawn ceremony to settle the mōuri (lifeforce) of the grounds.

Today was the next stage in that restoration process.

This morning’s ceremony was a coming together, with limited crowd numbers due to the Covid-19 framework, and acknowledging the support shown by various parties during those hectic weeks. 

Addressing those assembled by Parliament's front steps, the local MP, Grant Robertson, recalled how students who usually walked through and near the precinct on their way to and from school had been harassed and spat on during the protest, requiring security guards to shepherd them to school.

Welcoming people on to their tipuna whenua, Taranaki Whānui Chair Kara Puketapu-Dentice spoke about the importance of humility and acceptance. “Humility in our lack of knowledge about why things happened. Humility in our ability to fully grasp the complexities of human behaviour, and the acceptance of those with different views.”

“This is not a story of the victors and the vanquished, nor an attempt to sanitise the recent past. It is a process of hope and understanding. Understanding the pain and anguish among some of our whānau. Understanding that labels don't define us. And hope that we move from disconnection to reconnection.”

With a Covid outbreak gaining pace locally, the inner city streets of the capital are quiet and uneasy. But the occupation had already forced a public retreat. A measure of peace, goodwill and reconnection between people and place offers some hope.

New Zealand’s Parliament has been one of the most open in the world, with regular and extensive access to its premises and systems for the public, at least until the pandemic. Fears that this could be jeopardised by a hijacked protest were allayed by the Speaker, Trevor Mallard, who assured attendees that MPs are determined to keep this Parliament open to all.  

For now, members of the public can at least once again use the paths around Parliament’s buildings as a thoroughfare, although the lawns and play space remain closed while they are restored.

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