TĀ MĀTOU KORERO – OUR STORY
Joan Macdonald was a leader in Pākehā Treaty education nationally and in Project Waitangi Tamaki Makaurau over many decades. She believed in Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a basis for a harmonious society in Aotearoa New Zealand, and was a courageous supporter of all forms of decolonisation work among Tauiwi and Māori.
JOAN MACDONALD
1932 – 2016
TŪTAKINA NGĀ KAITIAKI – MEET OUR TRUSTEES
We are a small trust of Pākehā and Māori women, with input from representatives of many communities. We invite people to attend our Trust meetings to contribute to the work of the Trust.
WHY DO WE NEED THIS FUND?
We often discussed with Joan how hard it was for independent educators to get financial support to develop Treaty education or decolonisation resources for their communities.
There has been persistent demand for more people-friendly education about the Treaty, e.g. Dr. Rasalingam, then president of the Refugee Council (2000); Human Rights Commission Community Dialogues (2004 – 2006); Jim Bolger, former Prime Minister (2016); Otorohanga School petition (2016) appealing for more education about the Land Wars and impacts of colonisation.
Tino rangatiratanga & United Tribes flags
outside Te Whare Runanga, Waitangi 2020
There is new public interest in New Zealand’s history.
Here New Zealand’s first national flag, adopted in 1834, flies at Waitangi 2020
New displays at the Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi, and He Tohu at the National Library in Wellington are stimulating people’s curiosity to learn more.
New public interest has been awakened in the Declaration of Independence (He Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni, 1835), the forerunner to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
We are responding with support for independent groups to develop educational resources about He Wakaputanga, Te Tiriti, colonisation and decolonisation.