'Be(Com)Ing' Ngāti Kahungunu in the Diaspora: Iwi Identity and Social
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‘Be(com)ing’ Ngāti Kahungunu in the Diaspora: Iwi Identity and Social Organisation in Wellington Christina M. González A thesis submitted in fulfilment of a Master of Arts (MA) in Māori Studies Victoria University of Wellington Te Whare Wānanga o te Upoko o te Ika a Māui 2010 Abstract Ngāti Kahungunu is an ideal example to investigate the processes of identity management and socio-political representation within and outside of their traditional tribal territory. It is the third most populous iwi in Aotearoa/New Zealand, with approximately 60,000 members, and boundaries that span from the Wairoa district down to the Wairarapa region. Kahungunu’s complexity and dynamism are not restricted to its territorial boundaries. A large portion of Kahungunu members form expatriate tribal communities located beyond their tribal district. The Wellington region hosts the largest number of Kahungunu members dwelling outside of their tribal territory, as well as the Ngāti Kahungunu Embassy. The Embassy is an organisation which, like many other expatriate Māori tribal bodies, faces the challenges of locating and reaching its tribal members to connect them to their Kahungunu home and heritage, while simultaneously representing their particular, Wellington-specific voices. This thesis explores the ways that Ngāti Kahungunu identities are articulated, maintained and transformed by individuals and institutions in Wellington today, by analysing qualitative interviews with ten Kahungunu men and women, and a case study on the Kahungunu Embassy. Three chapters on iwi identity, home and social organisation illustrate how Kahungunu voices in Wellington can more adequately be heard, and their experiences included, in the tribe, despite their apparent geographic and cultural distance. A range of theoretical tools, including Diaspora theory, urban indigeneity, translocalism, flexible notions of home and belongingness to group, as well as cultural concepts grounded in Māori epistemology, such as whakapapa, are useful to reflect upon diverse ways of belonging to community and to place(s). I argue that many Kahungunu in Wellington extend and expand the meaning of 'be(com)ing' Kahungunu through introducing the concept of a 'third space of forms'. The semantic expansions of identity, home and social organisation can inform the purpose and direction of groups, like the Kahungunu Embassy, to better reflect the lived realities of its members. i Acknowledgements This thesis is dedicated to my interviewees – my friends – and their tīpuna. Each one of your journeys is valid. Each one is beautiful. In beginning my thanks, I feel compelled to summon the Māori proverb, “Ehara taku toa he toa takitahi; engari, he toa takitini”: 'My strength is not my strength alone; it is the strength of many'. This work is the result of the hard work and contributions of the many people I’ve encountered along my journey. Whether large or small, direct or indirect, everyone's input was significant and all equally appreciated. Firstly, I give an immeasurable amount of thanks to my partner Futa for all of his challenging, insightful comments, his unyielding support, and for believing in me, even when I didn’t. Futa, you were invaluable for listening during the difficult stages of crisis, in the joyous moments of revelation and through the mumbling spaces in-between. I could have not done it without you. Loves! To my supervisor, Dr. Maria Bargh, mana wahine, thank you for giving me the freedom to think and write the way I do. Your feedback, honesty, patience, positivity, generosity, guidance and counsel made the work possible. I could have not asked for a better supervisor. I humbly thank my mentor, Dr. Roger Maaka, who has been an excellent example of scholarship, service, humility and kindness. Thank you for welcoming me into parts of your world and for touching me with pieces of your life. I feel that this thesis belongs to you. I deeply appreciate all the aroha and support from the whānau at Te Kawa a Māui and Te Herenga Waka Marae, especially from VUW staff and students: Peter Adds, Dr. Ocean Mercier, Dr. Alice Te Punga Somerville, Meegan Hall, Paul Meredith, Monoa Taepa, Piri Sciascia, Te Atawhai Kumar and Erin Keenan. Thank you to the lovely people at the Kahungunu Embassy, specifically Bill Te Huia Hamilton, Tere Harrison and Kathie Irwin; and, to Doreen Christie of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tamaki Makaurau. Tīhei Kahungunu! To my angels, Pania, Domenica, Jorgette, Pauline, Willy-John, Hiirini, Dara and Kahu, thank you guys for rejuvenating my spirit and for keeping my mind (relatively) sane throughout the journey. Thank you to Fulbright New Zealand for being my ticket into this amazing country and for supporting my work. Thank you to its staff and in particular to Mele, Keri, Kara and Andy, and to my fellow Fulbrighters who have become life-long friends, Lauren and Siobhan. ii Thank you to VUW's Scholarship Office for the financial support to do this thesis, to VUW's Financial Support and Advice Services for the extra help when needed, and to my Internal Grants Manager for the funding to attend the AIATSIS National Indigenous Studies conference. Thank you to Belinda Borell and Evan Poata-Smith for your time, interest and support, especially at the beginning stages of the thesis. Although our conversations were few and brief, they were important to me nonetheless. Thank you to the 'Ofamo'oni-Lynch family, and especially to Ann, who made my last few months as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Last, but far from least, thank you to my loving parents, Ramona and Michael, who hold two halves of my heart. And, thank you to my family in general who always support me and my ambitions, even when they involve me moving to the other side of the world. I love you guys with all my Being. iii Table of Contents Abstract i Acknowledgements ii Table of Contents iv Chapter One: Introduction 1 I. Preamble – Genealogy of a Thesis...............................................................................................1 II. Introduction..................................................................................................................................4 • i. Thesis Outline.....................................................................................................................5 • ii. Consequences of the Thesis..............................................................................................7 Chapter Two: Methodology 9 I. Research Methodology..................................................................................................................9 • i. Kaupapa Māori................................................................................................................10 II: Research Design.........................................................................................................................11 • i. Interdisciplinarity and Māori Studies............................................................................12 • ii. Pre-Interview Process.....................................................................................................13 • iii. Interviews.......................................................................................................................15 • iv. Post-Interview Analysis.................................................................................................17 III: Insider/Outsider Positionality.................................................................................................17 Chapter Three: Identity 20 I. Ngāti Kahungunu: Constitutions of an Iwi Identity................................................................20 II. Iwi as Social Organising Paradigm..........................................................................................21 • i. The Kahungunu Project: Post-Contact Constructions of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi in the 19th Century.........................................................................................................................22 iv • ii. The Kahungunu Project: Contemporary Constructions of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi in the 20th Century...................................................................................................................24 III. Iwi as Identity Label................................................................................................................27 IV. Theoretical Framework ...........................................................................................................30 • i. Diaspora: Roots – Routes................................................................................................30 V. Indigenising Diaspora................................................................................................................34 • i. Indigenous and Diaspora................................................................................................35 • ii. Māori and Diaspora........................................................................................................37 VI. Māori Diaspora in Aotearoa/New Zealand............................................................................38 • i. Kahungunu in Wellington...............................................................................................39 • ii. “My identity is my family and my home and where I belong”...................................41 • iii. Kahungunu Identity in Wellington..............................................................................42 VII. On ‘Being’ Kahungunu in Wellington...................................................................................43