Minister Mahuta and Prime Minister Bainimarama sign the Duavarta Agreement
For 45 years, a Taonga has stood nameless in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat building, in Fiji. A piece of ‘artwork’ installed to show New Zealand culture. How could it have been installed without knowing it’s whakapapa? That is something that would be the first question from indigenous peoples.
This year, New Zealand’s first female Maori Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, Ngāti Maniapoto/Ngāti Manu, visited the Pacific nation of Fiji. Her mission was to bring Fiji and New Zealand closer together, signing the Duavarta Partnership : Aotearoa Whenua Manapori o Whiti Tauaki Mahitahi. In her priority to connect Pacific nation to Pacific nation she also reconnected Aotearoa to Fiji by acknowledging our past connections, pre colonisation.
Minister Mahuta, during an official visit to PIF, unveiled a plaque acknowledging Hone Te Kauru Taiapa as Master Carver and creator of the artwork, and in doing so reconnected our islands, bound by Te Moana nui a Kiwa – of people and place. She rededicated this Taonga, a whakairo, as a symbol of the relationship between Aotearoa and Fiji, and to support the work that PIF is doing to promote and uplift regionalism.
In a way this reflects the Duavarta Partnership – our countries reconnecting in the spirit of Manaakitanga, as Tagata Pasifika – our relationship centuries old.
The focus of the Duavarta Partnership is a “shared commitment and vision for regional solidarity.” Signed by Minister Mahuta and Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama, the agreement commits both countries to a relationship underpinned by five key principles: Tātai Hono (The recognition of deep and enduring whakapapa connections); Tātou Tātou (All of us together); Whāia te Taumata Ōhanga (Journey towards a circular economy); Turou Hawaiiki (Navigating together); and Arongia ki Rangiātea (Focus towards excellence).
Bainimarama said “As a unified Pacific family, we take great pride in commemorating this momentous occasion which speaks to our historical links and lasting bonds of friendship that inspires initiatives for the empowerment of ordinary Fijians and create platforms for national and regional prosperity.”
While some may talk about the strategic necessity of this agreement, or focus on the other issues such as regional security, there is something moving about Fiji’s renewed connection to Aotearoa’s Tangata Whenua and the Pacific peoples it represents. There is something right about giving back respect to a Taonga gifted by Aotearoa to the islands of Fiji, and acknowledging an artist who creates his works by channelling his ancestors in every piece. Something that goes beyond news headlines and instead cements our connection eye to eye, people to people, and whakapapa to whakapapa.
For more news coverage of the Duavarta Agreement please click on the links below: