Final Lineup of Speakers Announced for M9's
Ka Tohe Au! Ka Tohe Au! I AM THE SOVEREIGN!
Published: Tuesday 27 February, 2024
M9 has now announced the full line-up of Te Tiriti o Waitangi experts speaking on stage at The Civic on Friday 8 March.
Nine Māori voices with expertise in Te Tiriti will be taking the stage for the Māori oratory and performance event at The Civic on 8 March 2024 - Ka Tohe Au! Ka Tohe Au! I AM THE SOVEREIGN.
Image: Mihingaarangi Forbes
The new additions to the already powerful lineup are Tina Ngata (Ngāti Porou), Professor Ella Henry (Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāti Kuri, Te Rarawa), Tākuta Ferris (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Apa, Rangitāne), Mihingaarangi Forbes (Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Maniapoto) and Dayle Takitimu (Te Whānau ā Apanui).
Image: Takutai Ferris,
Presented by Matai Smith, the newly announced kaikōrero join some of the most well-known and passionate leaders for kaupapa Tiriti in Aotearoa including, Hone Harawira (Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Whātua), Veronica Tawhai (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Uepōhatu), Eru Kapa-Kingi (Te Aupōuri / Ngāpuhi) and Pere Huriwai-Seger (Ngāi Tūteauru, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Te Ātiawa).
The two-hour extravaganza brings together 9 prominent Māori leaders renowned for their efforts in advocating for Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Event Curator, Ria Hall, says this M9 is one of their most critical conversations to date.
“Te Tiriti o Waitangi is one of the founding documents of Aotearoa. It is also our most controversial, widely misinterpreted, misunderstood, and dishonoured agreement of the past 184 years,” says Hall.
Image: Tina Ngata
Each kaikōrero brings their own unique perspectives of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to the table ranging from its impact on the environmental care of Aotearoa right through to Māori rights and representation in film and television.
Image: Professor Ella Henry
For the first time M9 has partnered with Re: News to amplify the kōrero. Following the event on March 8th, content from the night will be available across Re: News social media channels and on TVNZ+.
Accessible to all people of Aotearoa, M9 celebrates Te Ao Māori through whakaaturanga, whakaari, and whakawhiti kōrero - presentation, performance, and conversation. During ‘Ka Tohe Au! Ka Tohe Au! I AM THE SOVEREIGN!’ these high profile kaikōrero will debunk colonial narratives, examine the implications of Tiriti mythmaking and discuss how sovereignty was never ceded. They will explore Te Tiriti’s historical context, its role today and dive into Māori experiences and challenges of confronting those who dishonour the Agreement.
About M9
What is possible when you bring nine powerful Māori voices together on the stage over one evening to inspire, empower and impart kōrero Māori on a topic close to our hearts? M9 is a ground-breaking event that is the meeting point between modern-day ‘TED-Talks’ and the age-old practice of oratory that our people are world-renowned for. Accessible to all people of Aotearoa, M9 presents unique Māori voices to celebrate Te Ao Māori through Whakaaturanga, Whakaari, Whakawhiti Kōrero - Presentation, Performance, Conversation.
