Kotahitanga: unity and collective action for Aotearoa

November’s Te Hīkoi mō te Tiriti was a powerful manifestation of kotahitanga – unity, togetherness – in action.

Tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti of all generations walked alongside each other from Te Rerenga Wairua at the top of the North Island to Parliament’s grounds in Pōneke Wellington, where more than 42,000 people assembled to affirm the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

On day three of the hīkoi, the Le Va team gathered at the Ihumātao activation in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to show support for the Toitū Te Tiriti kaupapa as tangata moana.

Le Va, a Pasifika-kaupapa organisation, recognises the rights of Māori as the indigenous people of Aotearoa and upholds the values of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a framework for a shared, inclusive future.

We have a commitment to stand in solidarity with tangata whenua, ensuring Te Tiriti is honoured to protect the rights of all our mokopuna.

The Toitū Te Tiriti movement looks to prove the power of tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti working together to create a more cohesive country to live in, and the hīkoi advocated for the enduring strength of Te Tiriti to live on.

We believe Te Tiriti o Waitangi represents our collective journey toward a future based on unity, shared decision-making, and wellbeing for our communities and environment.