14 12 Pacific Peoples 10 Pakeha 8 6 4 2 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 >74 Figure 4: Distribution of Pacific peoples and Pākehā by age group Pacific peoples and the relationship to Tangata Whenua a Te Tiriti o Waitangi Aotearoa New Zealand is like Tāne Mahuta with many roots in the forest of Oceania. The special relationship that Aotearoa New Zealand has with Pacific nations is biological, spiritual, historical, geographical and environmental. There is sharing and commonalities of whakapapa in the histories of Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand, as one of the many Tagata o te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (people of the Pacific Ocean). Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa is the highway by which Tangata migrated, over thousands of years, from the ancient lands of Hawaiiki nui, Hawaiiki roa and Hawaiiki pa’amama’o, also known as Rangiātea. There are ties between Tangata Whenua and whanaunga (relations) all over Oceania. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the founding document of Aotearoa and is a unique statement of human rights. This document was signed in 1840 between representatives of the British Crown and several Māori rangatira (chiefs) and is a promise between two peoples. It establishes a relationship, akin to partnership, between the Crown and Māori chiefs. It affirms the rights that Tangata Whenua had prior to 1840, including the right to protect and preserve their lands, forests, waters and other treasures for future generations. It also gave tauiwi (non-Māori) 12 and the Crown a set of rights and responsibilities that enabled them to settle in Aotearoa; these rights extend to Pacific peoples. By upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and addressing the legacy of colonisation in Aotearoa New Zealand, including structural racism, this will benefit Pacific peoples along with Tangata Whenua and others. The institutions and structures in Aotearoa New Zealand that have their source in colonisation and breach Te Tiriti o Waitangi do not work for and harm Māori. In many cases, they also do not work for and harm Pacific peoples and others too. Te Tiriti o Waitangi provides a framework for addressing the injustices of colonisation for the benefit of Tangata Whenua as well as Pacific peoples who have settled here as Tangata Tiriti. Te Tiriti of Waitangi provides a place for the relationship between Pacific peoples and Tangata Whenua to be strengthened within Aotearoa New Zealand. There are examples of Pacific peoples working alongside Tangata Whenua to combat racism/colonisation, uphold Te Tiriti and work together/support each other on issues of shared concern, such as climate change and indigenous rights. This includes, for example, the recent work of the Polynesian Panthers regarding the events unfolding at Ihumātao. Talanoa: Human rights issues for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand