A love letter to Te Tiriti based futures + Antiracism 2026

I am always amazed at how far a single idea can go. Te Tiriti based futures + antiracism was born in 2020 a response to a tweet-based challenge from Moana Maniapoto to Pākehā about what we were doing about decolonisation education. I cheekily responded on behalf of our Pākehā people, roped in some comrades and Te Tiriti based futures our – open-access, Tiriti and racial justice on-line extravaganza was born. 

Thousands of New Zealanders have watched webinars live, thousands more have gone back to watch them on our YouTube channel. The are a treasure trove of radical through, movement and herstory. They are a gift for teachers, a chance to remember our lost friends and be inspired by a new generation of agitators. 

As part of the organising crew, I try to go to everything and try not to play favourites. I always start earnestly and write lots of notes as I knit or weave up a storm (yeah, I multi-task) but as the days proceed my notetaking slips. Here are a few of my favourite bits from the 2028 offering.

Thanks to Witi Ashby and Di Grennell who opened the space for us. Sir Taihakurei Durie got us to time-travel and gave us a potted history of quiet and significant victories over decades of Māori-led resistance. Reikura Kahi talking about being a first generation kura kaupapa kid who crew up in a te Ao Māori bubble where she didn’t know about racism. Dame Areta Koopu talked about the aha moment when she was in Samoa and saw Samoans running their own country. Kathie Irwin reminded us one third of Māori women are homeless. 

Annette Sykes did a ahi kā call to action. We gave her an extended timeslot and got Marty and Lisa to double chair her – she barely paused for a breath and covered everything from Palestine, to Eva Rickard, Te Pāti Māori politics. There was something for everyone. Rich in analysis, movement wisdom, vision, passion, compassion. She referenced Moana, Syd and Michael Jackson. It seems the classic tune “the man in the mirror” might be a useful to revisit as a movement anthem.

Takiwai, Chris, Enoka and Ngahuia Murphy kōrero about the family business of activism was delightful. The webinar was full of love and respect. Ngahuia fielded the hard questions while casually painting and engaging in affectionate family banter.  The take home from me was “to go activism your way”.  I was lucky enough to watch this webinar at a community screening in the Place of Somewhere in Newtown with some rangatahi. There watch party had come up on my social media feed. Lovely to meet the next generation. 

Leon Moosavi was smart and charming and knew lots of flash words as he talked about the global south. Mershen Pillay was an excellent chair. He shared interesting ideas about hierarchies of citizenship and planted the idea of doing a critical rewatch of the action film classic “Blackhawke down” to focus on the geo-political politics this time.

OmiSoore Dryden was deliciously warm and grounded in community. She reminded us of Joyce Echaquan who livestreamed her experiences of racism and ultimately her own death from hospital in Canada. She noted hospitals are amongst the sharpest points of colonial systems. She grew up in a house reading Franz Fanon and was clearly an activist scholar grounded in community.

Liana MacDonald and Yin Paradies took on the challenge of talking about reindigenising peace. It was an invitation to notice, to engage in local action, to pursue right relationship and kinship. Yin said we could be more like snakes – when we bang together we can shed skins and grow. He envisioned an end to the era of modernity and a return to primal lives and values of our ancestors. Both have books out this year.

Maria Bargh was a powerhouse on the politics of water. She was encouraging positive local solutions that draw on connection and love. She emphasised the importance of our non-human relatives who we share the earth with.  

The poets Karlo Mila, Hinemoana Baker, Tusiata Avia chaired by Lisa Maule were breathtaking. They yielded emotion like a superpower. They let their poems speak for them and I was reminded how poets are essential workers, that they are pivotal to the movement. I want to read all of their books, all at once and never ever watch the news again. 

Glenn Coluqhoun and Richard Shaw were good men. Emotionally open, smart, fun and articulate. Carl Chenery, trusty chair asked powerful questions that drew out unexpected answers about Pākehā myths and legends. It was an invitation to dig deeper. Glenns’ closing waiata about the godwit was deeply moving.

The Oceans between Us – Pacific academics – Yvonne Ualesi, Jean Allen, Evalesi Tu’inuku, Sereana Naepi chaired by Tony Fala seemed to be having the best time. There passion for the kaupapa and lifting each other up was palpable. They were brave, honest, smart and deadly in their analysis.  

Te Ata Kura team also seemed to be having all the fun – Veronica Tawhai, Rachael Dibble and Jarrod Telford shared some useful reflections on their teaching pedagogy. Generous insights into how to handle teachable moments in the classroom, how to hold ground, how to keep oneself safe and sustain the mahi. 

Obviously, I loved the health kaupapa webinar with Rawiri Jansen, Lady Tureiti Moxon and Peter Crampton. Clear articulate analysis of all that is wrong in the health sector and offering practical insights into ways forward. The health sector is blessed with the depth of Māori health leadership. Still loving Peter’s ventures into te Reo Māori. 

I went to other sessions – pay equity, the climate change one etc and I have saved up more to go to later. But what I love about Te Tiriti based futures is all the nerds, and superfans soaking up the chance to hear their sheros. The relentless commitment to kaupapa. The community notices in the chat. The power of the community code which invites people into a relational supportive learning environment. I love the texts after a good session. I love the showers of emojis when someone makes an insightful point. I love extending my reading list. I love being on the organising crew and making new friends and staying connected. 

Thanks to the dedicated 100+ team that pull Te Tiriti based futures together. The core crew – you know who you are, the newsletter editor, the fundraisers, the treasurer, the process Queens, the 65 partner organisations, the 58 speakers on the main programme, the 26 experienced chairs, the 30+ in the production team, the post-production team, the rangatahi crew, the captioners, the IT guy, the promotion/ social media crew, and the crones. The folk that tuned in and responded to our call to learn, listen and act.

Contact us  tiritifutures@gmail.com if you want to be part of Te Tiriti based futures 2028.