RIKIRANGI GAGE – HE KAITIAKI O TE MOANA A AOTEAROA NO TE WHANAU-A-APANUI
One of the requests today on the search engine was to see Mr “Rikirangi Gage.”
He came to my attention via media while living in Hollywood. Rikirangi is known as He Kaitiaki o te Moana a Aotearoa, or, a guardian of the Oceans of Aotearoa New Zealand. He has concerns about intended oil drilling’s impact on his tribal location and in principle, New Zealand’s environment too in regards to oil drilling.
He’s a healthy brake, to BigOil’s plans (accelerated by international politics, economic engineers too, consumers who consume more than their fair share of oil in some select nations over others, pressuring our politicians or waving carrots of making a minority elite, wealthier too quickly in times of GFC) in taking too much oil too soon from New Zealand’s shores.
New Zealand has plans to negotiate better pricing plans for our oil, than what is being offered by BigOil companies and economic engineers at present. So, to be honest – we’re in no rush to sell off our oil reserves too fast, too quickly, under the current ‘arrangements.’ It is also not known, if Maori have been fairly and equally consulted about any future oil (energy) extraction arrangements currently being made, or, if Maori have been afforded the equality of sitting equally at the negotiationg table on such future plans. It’s about time Maori were.
Thus Rikirangi Gage is a voice of wisdom, slowing down speedy extraction before New Zealanders are in a stronger position to negotiate with the skills upgrade needed to extract our oil for the best and fairest price for all New Zealand peoples’ futures. Kiwis should be able to reap the greater economic advantages more fully than what is being offered as well as being in control of managing flow and output (pace, position and possession basics of just and legal business negotiating practices), in relation to gaging direct impacts to the environment by managing and having say in this necessary monitoring process of energy output flows offshore to other nations. These are the resources we still are legal and will always be spiritual kaitiaki of.
When it comes to oil. I’m for both sides. I’m not solely on Rikirangi’s. I say…. Yes, extract. But for what price, at what speed, and perhaps most importantly – to whom and for what end-use purpose, will our oil be used for the planet’s best future interests- are questions I value ahead. It’s our oil, until it leaves our coastline. As architects of a better world (not just New Zealand) Maori-Kiwis should have say in how our land, coasts and energy resources will be used. This is kaitiakitanga.
Thus, Rikirangi is one of the people who just straight up protects the environment of his Maori ancestors – helping make the questions above, be raised in the process – by his ethical stance of commitment to the environment’s wellbeing. I love that. In the middle, there’s a balance on this issue.
All power to him. A man of great strength of spirit – with courage in taking a stance on future issues you can’t help but respect. To not listen to his view, is to simply aid and abet rhetorics of greed, inequality and economic bullying based on fear rooted in greed from outside influences. Maori must be at the table. Rikirangi’s stance is all about this one principle from where many important other issues flow.
[Photo - Greenpeace Media]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 28.1.12~
