Geez, after watching Sunday tonight the lead story about James Takamore's partner and children and his whanau from up north, how on earth will this be resolved?
My personal viewpoint: I understand tikanga dictates a person's resting place be the whenua of their birth; however this man, to all intents and purposes, had turned his back on his whanau for a life completely divorced from them. I'd have thought that if his personal wish had been to be buried up north he and his partner would have discussed the issue at some point in their 20 years together. As it stands, it appears his "whanau" give no thought to the feelings of those closest to them - and surely those two children should be considered whanau by blood - and override all considerations but their own.
Tuhoe have never been backwards in coming forward when it comes to challenging the law and I guess many could see them as "doing what's right by Maori" in terms of standing up for traditional beliefs. Sadly though in this case they only appear belligerent and determined to do what they want no matter the bigger picture. For a man who seems to have turned his back on them, they are determined to hold on to him by any means now he no longer can have any say for himself.
The message is, as the son said, they can do whatever they like and even the Police will back down. Now, what I find outrageous is that if their own council had given their permission for the exhumation to be done, other parties within the tribe can over ride that. Where is the unity in their leadership over their people if their own can refuse to bow to it?
How do you reckon it's going to be resolved?
Originally Posted by Katman
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