The hīkoi makes its way through Kerikeri on Wednesday morning.
Photo: Supplied / Kishea Pihema-Wilson

Teenagers taking part in a hīkoi from Cape Rēinga to the Treaty Grounds this week say they’re standing up for future generations and sending a message to the government about honouring Te Tiriti.

About 60 people, many carrying banners and flags, took part in this morning’s leg of the march through Kerikeri’s town centre.

The are due to arrive at Waitangi on Friday morning.

The six-day hīkoi combines driving, walking and running, with many participants taking turns to run the length of Ninety Mile Beach on the first day, and planning to run between the Far North towns of Moerewa and Kawakawa today.

The march is a tradition stretching back decades, with this year’s theme, Mana Mokopuna, reflected in the large number of youth taking part.

Karirikura Taipari, 16, of Ahipara, said she was doing it to support future generations.

“And to make sure our generation knows how to stand up for their rights,” she said.

Taipari said she was looking forward to bringing the hīkoi’s message to Waitangi on 6 February.

The hīkoi made its way through Kerikeri on Wednesday morning, on is way from Cape Rēinga to Waitangi.
Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Even if the government succeeded in sidelining the current generation, they couldn’t get rid of future generations, she said.

Capri Murray, 17, of Whangape, said she hoped that their message was “coming through loud and proud”.

“We’re doing all of this walking everywhere and heaps of running, so they should be getting the message – especially since it’s not just for us, it’s for everyone.”

Her call to the country’s leaders was to “honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, because it was here before you were”.

Fifteen-year-old Kendra Matiu, from Kaitāia, said her aim was to tautoko [support] her whānau and future generations.

“It’s been really fun and we’ve been to a lot of places, and we’ve done a lot of running … that’s not really fun, but it’s cool when people support us.”

Haare Kawiti, 19, of Wellington, said he’d had experiences he wouldn’t forget, like sleeping on the ground in Kerikeri and running on Ninety Mile Beach.

“That was pretty tough … I’m doing it to celebrate our culture and uplift the tamariki out there – even though I probably still count as one,” he said.

Coordinator Rueben Taipari said the group left Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Rēinga) on Sunday, marching through Kaitāia and Kāeo and staying overnight at Waimanoni and Kenana marae.

The hīkoi made its way through Kerikeri on Wednesday morning, on is way from Cape Rēinga to Waitangi.
Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

On Tuesday night they camped near Kerikeri’s Kororipo Pā, a hugely significant site due to be returned to Ngāpuhi next month.

Tonight they would be hosted by Ngāti Hine at Waiomio Marae, south of Kawakawa.

Taipari said no one could argue with the theme of this year’s hīkoi.

“Everybody should be thinking about a better future for their children and grandchildren. With all these fascist, racist governments, the world is in chaos. But we wanted to bring something different – to still make a strong statement, but to have a positive reason for marching.”

Taipari said many of New Zealand’s problems today would not exist if society was always focussed on future generations.

“Three generations ago, people did have that concept. They built good infrastructure, they invested taxes to make a good, strong country. But that hasn’t been happening for the past few generations, and I think that’s where the problems are. We’re not thinking about the good of society and the nation. We’re just thinking about ourselves.”

Taipari said the purpose of the hīkoi was whakawhanaungatanga, or making connections among people.

“But it’s also a physical thing to capture that mauri [life force] we bring from Te Rerenga Wairua, and connect it to every community and every tribe and every hapū that we pass through … It builds a strong movement and continues to uphold that living document of Te Tiriti Waitangi.”

Taipari said he was never concerned about the numbers taking part, but this year’s hīkoi had a particularly “intense energy” thanks to the large proportion of young people.

He was coordinating the march but rangatahi [youth] were making the decisions, he said.

“People complain about young people being on their devices all the time and say they don’t do anything. Well, I’ve seen a different energy on this hīkoi. And I’d say that’s an analogy for the future. Watch out everybody. They’re coming.”

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