What does Hokotehi mean?

Hokotehi is a Moriori word meaning unity.

When was the Trust formed?

Hokotehi was formed in 2001 and is a registered charitable trust. Prior to Hokotehi, Moriori were represented by two tribal organisations: Tchakat Henu Trust and Te Iwi Moriori. These merged to form Hokotehi Moriori Trust (Hokotehi).

What is the Trust set up to do?

The Trust was formed for the purposes of representing Moriori wherever they may live and for the advancement of Moriori health, welfare and education. It’s mission statement is to apply the wisdom and values of the past so as to ensure the physical and spiritual nourishment of present and future generations of Moriori; thus honouring the legacy of our karāpuna (ancestors). The Trust bases it business and strategic planning around the core Moriori values of unity, sharing and listening.

How is the Trust managed and governed?

Hokotehi is governed by a Trust Board of registered members from Rēkohu and New Zealand. The proportion of members from the different regions is based on numbers of members resident n those areas, but 3 Trustees must be resident on Rēkohu. Elections for Trustees are held every 18 months-2 years. Nominations can be received from any adult (over 18) registered HMT member.

The Trust is managed by a General Manager with support staff in all the business units of the Trust (currently these are: farming, cultural projects, nursery, office and marae maintenance, and tourism). Hokotehi holds an AGM every year in either NZ or on Rēkohu, for which an Annual Report is produced.

How can Moriori become registered members of Hokotehi?

You can register to become a member by filling in the registration form, or through the online application system.  Registration requires evidence of ancestral connections from Rongomaiwhenua and/or Rongomaitere. If you are not sure of your ancestral lines (hokopapa) our Hokopapa Research Unit will be able to assist. Contact us for information.

Hokotehi also has a category for Affiliated Members. These are people without hokopapa connections but who wish to be associated with the organisation in a supportive capacity. Affiliated members are entitled to participate in meetings and Trust activities, but may not vote.

What is the covenant of peace?

The abandonment of warfare and killing was an ancient covenant handed down from the earliest Moriori ancestors. The covenant was reaffirmed in the times of Moriori karāpuna, Mu, Rongomaiwhenua, Pakehau and Nunuku. The covenant forbade killing. “It was passed down to Mu and Wheke, and from them and their descendants to Rongomaiwhenua, and from him to his descendants. You may continue to fight; the meaning of his word was, do not kill.”

By abandoning warfare and placing their weapons on the tūahu, Moriori entered into a tohinga or covenant with their gods. It was a unique declaration that from henceforth, only the gods would have power over life and death and not the people. Fighting became ritualised – upon first blood being drawn fighting was to cease. The law of Nunuku and his predecessors thus permitted an outlet for aggression and revenge but stopped short of inflicting the ultimate sanction of death.

From earliest childhood, male children were imbued with the significance of these laws. During the baptismal rites or tohinga of male children, the father or male elder would perform a ceremony by removing the old weapons from the tūahu and returning them once the ritual was complete. In this way, the covenant was renewed and passed on from one generation to the next. This was and is a very tapu covenant to Moriori. It reaffirms and acknowledges that tuakana (senior) status of the gods as the final arbiters of life and death over the teina (junior) status of human beings.

In 1836, Moriori made the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs following the invasion by Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Tama. Moriori leaders, Torea and Tapata urged the gathering at Te Awapatiki to hold fast to the teachings of Nunuku and not to break with the covenant. Like their illustrious forbears, Torea and Tapata were reaffirming and renewing the ancient injunction “Do not kill”. To break with it would have been a betrayal of their gods, of their ancestor’s wisdom and a complete loss of mana for Moriori as a people.

Are there any grants and assistance available to members?

The availability of grants and assistance for members are continually being revised and is budget dependent. Currently Education Grants are available for tertiary and special needs students. These forms can be found here.

Hokotehi regularly runs workshops for members on Moriori identity and culture at Kōpinga Marae. Support is also provided for small scale projects which meet the criteria of the Te Keke Tura Moriori Identity Trust. Information on this is available through the office.

Is there a resource for learning to speak Moriori?

Kupu Moriori are similar to Māori but there are also many different words and word structures in ‘re Moriori’ (language). Dictionary and phrase book resources are currently being developed and may be made available through the website.

CDs of rongo Moriori (songs) are available to members for a small cost at the office.

Where can I see other useful links and resources?

• Michael King’s book Moriori: a people rediscovered. Auckland: Viking, 1989, written in collaboration with Moriori is a comprehensive source of information and references.
• The feathers of peace [video-recording]. Producer, Ruth Kaupua Panapa; writer and director, Barry Barclay. Auckland: He Taonga Films, 2000
• Moriori. (TVNZ Documentary), 1980
• Shand, Alexander. The Moriori people of the Chatham Islands: their history and traditions. Christchurch: Kiwi, 1999 (originally published 1911)
• ‘Skinner, H. D. The Morioris of Chatham Islands. Papakura: Southern Reprints, 1990 (originally published 1923)