A University of Auckland academic is questioning why there has been no support from Māoridom for the people of Norfolk Island, given their plight against losing their sovereignty to the Australian Government next month.
Associate Professor Mānuka Henare says NZ's connection to Norfolk Island is both recent and historical and NZ should be doing more to support the people of Norfolk Island.
"What I'd like to hear from New Zealand end is empathy with the plight so that NZ uses its influence on the Australian political system to say 'treat the mana whenua with respect and integrity."
He says the people of Norfolk Island and Māori have migrational links that are both recent and historical.
"There's certainly whānaungatanga. The different parts of the East Polynesian whānau at the time were still exploring new places to settle and one group made it to here and others made it to Aotearoa."
"There is archaeological evidence I think it's roughly the 16th century in particular onwards there was a flow of people from Tai Tokerau coming to Norfolk up this way and then coming back."
Norfolk Island stands to lose its sovereignty to the Australian Government next month and become a regional council under New South Wales. It's an issue Mānuka says that will affect all New Zealanders living there with their families.
"Whether they're Pākehā families living here or Māori families we're going to start facing the same problems as Kiwis living in Australia being forced to become Australian citizens."
Henare says he's disappointed that the NZ Government hasn't stepped up to help.
"I wish we would because we've got these very old connections and I don't hear any voices from The Māori Party or the National Party. That’s a question that could possibly be put to Minister Flavell."
The Māori Party could not answer the questions put forward by Te Kāea but says it has not yet been approached for its support.