default-output-block.skip-main
National | Auckland

Auckland to honour Parihaka Day

The Auckland Central Library will host the Parihaka Day Peace Conference on Saturday 5 November.

The event put on by Auckland Peace Action (APA) and the Pacific Panthers (PP), will consist of a whole host of speakers,including Green Party's Marama Davidson.

“I am really excited by the great lineup of speakers we have at this free, public event. Filmmaker Paora Joseph, who produced Tatarakihi: the Children of Parihaka; noted academics Keala Kelly, Craig Santos-Perez, Teresia Teaiwa and Jane Kelsey; Muslim feminist Khayreyah Amani Wahaab and prison abolitionist Emilie Rākete. Marama Davidson will be speaking about her recent experiences on the Women’s Boat to Gaza. The Rev Mua Strickson-Pua will be MC the event,” says APA/PP member Sina Brown-Davis (Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Te Roroa, Te Uri o Hau).

“The resistance of the people of Parihaka to violent colonialism is the foundation of the modern peace movement. Our conference will be honouring that resistance, and building on it by educating about contemporary peace and justice issues.

We want to weave together the strands that make a peaceful and truly just society possible. Sessions will be tackling issues such as racism, militarism in the Pacific, and the ongoing struggle for freedom in Palestine,” Brown-Davis adds.

The sessions will be conversational and interactive. Those who attend will produce a community declaration articulating their aspirations and commitment to peace and justice.

Brown-Davis says it's important the event is being held within Ngāti Whātua as they are mana whenua.

The conference is free and open to the public at the Whare Wānanga, Level 2, Auckland Central Library. Proceedings start at 10am and go through till 3:30pm.