Matiu Tarawa was born in Matapihi, Tauranga, and was educated at schools in Matakana, Otumoetai, Tauranga and at Tauranga District High School. He is a Māori historian, Māori land consultant, and has been a long term campaigner for land rights. He is based in Auckland.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence from Matiu Tarawa on 30 September 2004.
- Te Iwi o Aotearoa 7 (1988): 8.
Other
- "Campaigner Seeks Justice Through Peaceful Protest." Bay of Plenty Times. No details.
- "Māori Sovereignty Proclaimed ‘To Secure Rights’." Bay of Plenty Times 12 Aug. 1987.
- "Tarawa Takes Palmer To Task." Bay of Plenty Times 11 Feb. 1988.
- "Matiu Tarawa Answers Critics On ‘Origins Of The Māori.’" Te Iwi o Aotearoa 19 (Mar. 1989): 23.
- Tarawa writes a rebuttal to criticism of his account of the origins of the Māori published in Te Iwi o Aotearoa 16 (Dec. 1988) in which he claims that Māori and Polynesians ‘are literal descendants of the House of Israel’ and writes a response to his critic’s opinions of the Mormon Church.
- "Mat Has His Say." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 32 (Apr. 1990): 28.
- A letter addressed to Mr Knobby Clerk, Mayor of the Tauranga District Council, in which Tarawa argues for the preservation of the sacred burial ground of Ngaitamarawaho and alternative routing for proposed roading via Otumoetai.
- "Whiti, Tohu, Tawhiao: Great Māori Leaders." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 37 (Oct. 1990): 21.
- Tarawa pays tribute to the two great Māori prophets from Taranaki, Te Whiti and Tohu, and Māori King Tawhiao.
- "The Great Awataha Controversy." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 39 (Dec. 1990): 15.
- Tarawa writes about the official opening of the Awataha Marae on November 17, 1990 and asserts that although Rangi Wilson spoke at the opening, the kawa of the Marae was not breached.
- "When the Haka became boogie." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 39 (Dec. 1990): 20.
- Tarawa writes a glowing review of a night of Māori entertainment at the Gluepot in Ponsonby.
- "Tuapiro Marae: Tauranga Raupatu Claim." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 39 (Dec. 1990): 22.
- The text of the claim by Tarawa, Nepia Bryan, and Matiti Bryan Watene of Tuapiro Marae, in Tahawai Katikati for compensation from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, the former Tauranga County Council and the former Tauranga City Council for ‘the theft of Māori ancestral lands and for the loss of use of these said lands over a period of over 125 years’; and the claimants lodge a further claim for five billion dollars for ‘the desecration of [their] Wahi Tapi and destruction of [their] Marae and the rape, murder and atrocities committed against [their] tribes of Ngātiranginui and Ngaiterangi’.
- "Tamaki College Marae." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 39 (Dec. 1990): 22.
- A letter of thanks to David Levene for the contribution of his company in the building of the marae at Tamaki College.
- "---Matiu has his say---What does Tino Rangātiratanga Mana Motuhake mean to Māoridom." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 39 (Dec. 1990). 24.
- Tarawa writes his definition of the scope of Tino Rangātiratanga and adds that Māori now need to ‘exercise it in an orderly way’, abolish the four Māori seats, and relinquish Crown honours.
- "Kia Ta Paora Reeves: Te Kawana Tianara Me te Kawanatanga O Niu Tireni." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 39 (Dec. 1990): 24.
- Tarawa writes that when Paul Reeves was Archbishop of the Anglican Church in New Zealand he held ‘the most powerful position in the country’, but his appointment as Governor General signalled a demotion and allowed the New Zealand government to ‘still brainwash, manipulate and commit acts of aggression against our Māori people of Aotearoa.’
- Max, Lesley. "The Tarawas Revisited: The Rest Of The Dream" Metro Oct. 1990: 68-71.
- "Re Lot 1 of Deposited Plan." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 40 (Jan 1991): 11.
- The text of a claim by Tarawa concerning confiscated land originally known as the Kohimarama Block 122742 which is part allotment of five districts in Glen Innes that have been sold and leased by the Crown.
- "Mayor Island Controversy." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 40 (Jan 1991): 17.
- A letter to the chair and trustees of Tuhua (Mayor Island) asserting that there have been no proper audits, reports of accounting nor minutes taken of trust meetings. He also asserts that there have been no public notices of meetings and writes of damages against the Trust Board for desecration of Wahi Tapu and Pohutakawa trees, and discusses the role of Mark Moynihan.
- "New Minister of Pakeha Affairs: Plans for Māoridom." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 40 (Jan 1991): 19.
- Tarawa challenges Winston Peters to work for the Māori people.
- "To Whom It May Concern." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 40 (Jan 1991): 22.
- Tarawa endorses Community Funerals which is operated by Taka Pukeroa and Fusi Liga Liga.
- "Portrait of An Entertainer." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 41 (Feb. 1991): 12.
- Tarawa writes a tribute to Māori entertainer Nephi (Neville) Shortland.
- "Proclamation and Declaration of Tino Rangātiratanga: Mana Motuhake in Aotearoa: Lands at Tuapiro Point Katikati and Confiscated Lands in Tauranga." Matiu Kauri Tuhourangi Tarawa, Nepia Paraena and Matiti Watene. Te Iwi o Aotearoa 41 (Feb. 1991): 18.
- The text of a Waitangi Tribunal claim on behalf of Tino Rangātiratanga Tuapiro Māori Development Authority of Ngāti Te Wai and the affiliated tribes in Tauranga.
- "My Whanaunga the French-Arab." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 41 (Feb. 1991): 20.
- In this article Tarawa writes of his Ngāti Kahungunu whanaunga Piri Tomlins, discusses the Māori Development Corporation’s debts and praises the editorial of Te Putatara editor Ross Himiona.
- Māori Sovereignty and Tino Rangatiratanga.
- Letter sent to the Minister of Justice 4 Dec. 2002.
- "To the Mayor Mr Banks and Auckland City Counsellors." 25 June 2003.
- "Proclamation and Declaration: Te Hikoi o Nga Waka ki te Whare Paremata.: Wednesday May 5, 2004.
- "Official Gazette Notice of the Sovereign State of Tamaki Makaurau o Aotearoa." 24 Mar. 2004.
Reviews
- "Matiu Kauri Tuhuurangi Tarawa Amended Claim 496." The Waitangi Claims Tribunal Division, Wellington.
- "The Moriori Race: A Critical Review of Michael King’s book Moriori: A People Rediscovered." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 39 (Dec. 1990): 17.
- Tarawa refutes the basis of King’s Moriori by asserting that ‘[t]here is no such people [as the Moriori] and Whakapapa genealogy spells it out quite clearly.’
Other
- "The Campaigner Seeks Justice Through Peaceful Protest." Bay of Plenty Times. No details.
- "Tarawa Takes Palmer to Task." Bay of Plenty Times 11 Feb. 1988.
- "Matiu Tarawa Has His Say." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 5 (New Year 1988): 23.
- Tarawa writes of the origin of the Waitangi Day ‘celebrations’ as being a ‘total farce [which] must not be allowed to continue.’ He argues for an enlarged Waitangi Tribunal to facilitate the quicker conclusion of Tribunal claims and calls for a hui at Tamaki Makaurau or Turangawaewae to focus on ‘Honouring of the Treaty of Waitangi’ and Māori sovereignty. He then outlines a possible form of Māori government entitled ‘Te Runanganui o Nga Waka’ and discusses the contribution of Madame Daes and Gunamunder Alfredson, U.N. officials on indigenous affairs who spoke at a hui at Tahuna marae.
- "Matiu Has His Say." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 6 (2 Mar. 1988): 12.
- A lengthy discourse on land claims and the Treaty.
- "Matiu Has His Say." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 7 (28 Mar. 1988): 8.
- Tarawa acknowledges remarks made by Ross Himiona concerning the Te Arawa Trust Board and advocates Trust Boards becoming ‘the Rununganui o nga Waka with representatives of all the tribes, hapus within Te Arawa, not just some.’ He also discusses the contribution of Māori politicians and singles out Koro Wetere and Matiu Rata for special support and praise.
- "Te Iwi Māori o Aotearoa." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 16 (Dec. 1988): 14.
- Tarawa discusses Māori origins, customs and laws and writes of the importance of the whanau and the whare wananga.
- "Waitangi Celebrations 1984/85." Te Hikoi Ki Waitangi, 1985. [Otara, N.Z.: Waitangi Action Committee, 198?]: 67.
- A reflection on the outcome of the Hikoi and Waitangi Day commemorations of 1984 and 1985, and an articulation of some of the issues concerning Māoridom.
- "Māori Sovereignty Proclaimed to Secure Rights." Bay of Plenty Times 12 Aug. 1987.
- "The Treaty of Waitangi & Knighthoods." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 19 (Mar. 1989): 12.
- Tarawa takes issue with those Māori who accept knighthoods and other awards from the Government, arguing that they are then silenced and compromised at a time when Māori need to speak out against Treaty wrongs.
- "The 1990 Celebrations and the Commonwealth Empire Games." ibid. 16+.
- A critique of the 1990 Celebrations and Commonwealth Empire Games in which Tarawa criticises the broken Treaty promises.
- "Matiu Has His Say." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 24 (Aug. 1989): 15.
- Tarawa criticises the Hui Whakakotahi which he asserts was a ‘brainwashing manipulation exercise; engineered by the Department of Māori Affairs’ and argues for the establishment of a ‘Runanganui O Nga Waka O Aotearoa’ - a central Māori government made up of an alliance of all tribes.
- "Proclamation of Sovereignty." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 30 (Feb. 1990): 19.
- Tarawa notes the reported statement by Catholic Church leaders asserting that ‘the Treaty of Waitangi is the sole lawful basis for Europeans to be in New Zealand’, and adds that this sentiment is in the same spirit that prompted the Proclamation of Sovereignty in 1987.
- "Mat Has His Say." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 31 (Mar. 1990): 25.
- Tarawa discusses the stance of his people, Ngai Te Rangi, in proclaiming Māori Sovereignty over all their lands in Matakana and Tauranga, and he asserts his personal position of not paying rates on his ancestral lands because his people never signed the Treaty of Waitangi or ‘gave consent to become British Subjects under British sovereignty.’
- "Proclamation of Māori Sovereignty." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 32 (Apr. 1990): 28.
- In this text of the proclamation of Māori Sovereignty which was sent to Queen Elizabeth II, the Prime Minister and Treaty Task Force members, it is asserted that Māori sovereignty was never ceded to the Crown, that true partnership between Māori and Pakeha must be established, that those tribes who did not sign the Treaty were still largely dispossessed of their heritage, and that it is time to establish a Māori governmental system related to the runanga system. Moreover, the text states that on 11 August 1989 the hereditary Chiefs of all tribes in Aotearoa declared that they ‘are claiming all lands held by the Crown and it’s Agents and Agencies, state owned enterprises etc...[and] all resources namely all forest, mountains, rivers, lakes, tributaries, inlets, animals, birds etc....’.
- "Mat Has His Say." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 36 (Sept. 1990): 6.
- A page of short articles in which Tarawa discusses Māori land injustices, critiques the Queen’s Birthday Honours system, provides the text of his letter sent to the Minister of Justice, Mr Bill Jefferies on July 28, 1990, requesting greater iwi involvement in the Waitangi Tribunal, and urges Māori to vote for tino rangātiratanga in the 1990 General Election.
- "Waikereo Estuary Motuapae Island." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 37 (Oct. 1990): 19.
- Tarawa writes of the potential destruction to the Waikereo estuary and Motuapae burial grounds if the Tauranga District Council proceeds with a plan to build a motorway through those areas and reports on a meeting between various local and national government representatives and local iwi, led by Judge Trapski, to discuss the ‘planned express way through the Waikereo estuary.
- "Māoridom’s Greatest Entrepreneur." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 38 (Nov. 1990): 7.
- Tarawa writes a tribute to Black Power leader Abe Wharewaka who founded Te Iwi o Aotearoa.
- "Matiu Has His Say: The Māori Warrior Nga Toa O Tumatauenga." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 39 (Dec. 1990): 3.
- Matiu writes of the fighting prowess of Māori troops in the world wars and particularly focuses on the actions of the 28th Māori Battalion.
- "Māori Independence in Aotearoa 1990." ibid. 11.
- Tarawa writes of the failure of New Zealand governments to protect the rights of Māori and he calls for the institution of a Māori government.
- "Matiu Has His Say: Tauranga Land Claims." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 40 (Jan 1991): 11.
- Tarawa provides a brief summary of recent exchanges with the Tauranga District Council and meetings with the Waitangi Tribunal and Judge Trapski concerning the Council’s plans to build a motorway through wahi tapu. He also includes a letter from Mayor Keith Clarke written in response to Tarawa’s visit of November 6, 1990.
- "Keep Māori Out of the Gulf War." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 41 (Feb. 1991): 7.
- Tarawa questions why Māori should participate in the Gulf War when the real struggle for Māori is in Aotearoa where their Treaty rights are not recognised.
- "Mat Has His Say: Hui Whakakotahi at Tauranga." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 42 (Mar 1991): 3.
- Tarawa provides a brief report on views expressed at the Hui Whakakotahi in Tauranga on 16 February, 1991 concerning Māori involvement in the Gulf War. He also writes a critique of New Zealand’s current immigration policies.