M9 Lineup Complete: Te Tiriti o Waitangi Experts Announced
The final lineup of speakers for M9 has been announced. Five more Māori voices with expertise in Te Tiriti will be taking the stage for the Māori oratory and performance event at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on 8 March 2024 - Ka Tohe Au! Ka Tohe Au! I AM THE SOVEREIGN.
The new additions to the already powerful lineup are:
Tina Ngata (Ngāti Porou)
Professor Ella Henry (Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāti Kuri, Te Rarawa)
Tākuta Ferris (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Apa, Rangitāne)
Mihingaarangi Forbes (Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Maniapoto)
Dayle Takitimu (Te Whānau ā Apanui)
The two-hour extravaganza brings together 9 prominent Māori leaders renowned for their efforts in advocating for Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Event Curator, Ria Hall, says this M9 is one of their most critical conversations to date.
“Te Tiriti o Waitangi is one of the founding documents of Aotearoa. It is also our most controversial, widely misinterpreted, misunderstood, and dishonoured agreement of the past 184 years,” says Hall.
Each kaikōrero brings their own unique perspectives of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to the table ranging from its impact on the environmental care of Aotearoa right through to Māori rights and representation in film and television.
Presented by Matai Smith, the newly announced kaikōrero join some of the most well-known and passionate leaders for kaupapa Tiriti in Aotearoa including:
Eru Kapa-Kingi (Te Aupōuri, Ngāpuhi)
Veronica Tawhai (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Uepōhatu)
Hone Harawira (Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Whātua)
Pere Huriwai-Seger (Ngāi Tūteauru, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Te Ātiawa)
For the first time M9 has partnered with Re: News to amplify the kōrero. Following the event on March 8th, content from the night will be available across Re: News social media channels and on TVNZ+.
Accessible to all people of Aotearoa, M9 celebrates Te Ao Māori through whakaaturanga, whakaari, and whakawhiti kōrero - presentation, performance, and conversation. During ‘Ka Tohe Au! Ka Tohe Au! I AM THE SOVEREIGN!’ these high profile kaikōrero will debunk colonial narratives, examine the implications of Tiriti mythmaking and discuss how sovereignty was never ceded. They will explore Te Tiriti’s historical context, its role today and dive into Māori experiences and challenges of confronting those who dishonour the Agreement.
Event producers janda started M9 as part of their kaupapa to create purpose driven events that celebrate the richness of our culture in Aotearoa.
See the M9 media release here and media kit here for further details of the event including speaker bios and photos.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.
