Ko Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII kua hoki ki Ihumātao ki te whakaheke i ōna kara me te matapae ia, ka hohou te rongo ki te whenua mautohe.
Nā tōna tari te kōrero i te 3 o Hereturikōkā 2019, i toro atu ai a Kiingi Tuuheitia ki Ihumātao ki te huhuti i tōna haki, ko Te Manawa hei tohu o te maungarongo me te kotahitanga.
E ai ki te tari, i puta hoki i a ia te whakaaro i reira kia riro māna e whakahaere ngā whakawhitinga kōrero ki waenga i ngā mana whenua i whakaae ai kia whakahokia ō rātou whenua ki a rātou.
Hei tā te Kiingitanga, e ono ngā marama kua whakapau ngoi ki te āta whakawhiti kōrero, ki te kimi ara tua atu i te tukanga whakatau kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi mō te whakahokinga o Ihumātao ki ngā mana whenua.
E ai ki te māngai o te Kiingitanga, ki a Rahui Papa, ko te nuinga o ngā mahi a te Kiingi kua oti me te matapae ia, he whakataunga pai ka puta i mua i te rā o Waitangi.
“There’s still some work to do, but Kiingitanga is satisfied that now is the time to retrieve the flag from Ihumaatao.
“In essence, Kiingi Tuuheitia’s work is done. He has successfully interceded on behalf of his people to find a pathway to a resolution that is outside of the Treaty process.”
I roto i tā rātou panui, e mihi ana te Kiingitanga ki te manawanui me te mahi nui a ētahi, mātua rā te Pirimia, a Jacinda Adern.
“It’s been a challenging process and we will be better for it as a people and a nation.”
He taipitopito kōrero anō ka whai atu.
