When Tom Phillips died, Ngāti Maniapoto rushed to the scene in their petrol-powered wakas to perform a karakia. This was a absolutely pointless. Tom was a white Kiwi bloke. No one asked for Māori spirituality to be wrapped around his death. Mana whenua do not own grief. Communities can mourn without someone else’s cultural theatrics being imposed being …
© 2025 Matua Kahurangi
Substack is the home for great culture



