ＮＺマオリ、反ワクチン派の「ハカ」利用に抗議

【ウェリントンＡＦＰ＝時事】ニュージーランドの先住民マオリのナティ・トア族が、新型コロナウイルスワクチン反対派の人々に対し、抗議デモでマオリ伝統の戦いの舞「ハカ」を踊らないよう強く求めている。（写真はニュージーランド・クライストチャーチで行われた新型コロナウイルス対策の規制やワクチンに抗議するデモで、先住民マオリの伝統の舞「ハカ」を踊る参加者）
　ニュージーランドでは最近、新型コロナ対策の規制に抗議するデモで、参加者がハカの中でも最もよく知られている「カ・マテ」を踊る姿が見られる。カ・マテは、２０１４年にニュージーランド議会で成立した法律で、ナティ・トア族に帰属権があると定められている。
　首都ウェリントン郊外で暮らすナティ・トア族は声明を出し、「新型コロナワクチン反対のメッセージを発信し、広める目的でカ・マテを利用することを非難する」とし、「デモ参加者に対し、われわれのタオンガ（文化的財産）の利用を直ちにやめるよう求める」と訴えた。
　ハカにはさまざまな種類があるが、カ・マテはラグビーのニュージーランド代表チーム「オールブラックス」が１００年以上前から試合前に披露してきたことで有名。
　足を踏み鳴らし、目を大きく見開いて踊るカ・マテは、１８２０年にナティ・トア族の首長テ・ラウパラハが、敵対部族の追撃を逃れることに成功した際に作った。ニュージーランドの文化に深く根付いており、結婚式や葬儀など重要な行事で披露されることも多い。
　ナティ・トア族はこれまでにも、ハカの商業化や風刺、儀式の軽視に抗議してきた。
　ナティ・トア族のヘルムート・モドリック代表は、社会全体の利益よりも個人の考えを優先させていると、ワクチン反対派を非難。「ナティ・トア族は、ワクチンが新型コロナウイルスから身を守るために利用できる最善策だとはっきり認識している」と述べた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/11/16-13:33）

The Maori tribe that owns rights to the Ka Mate haka told anti-vaccine protesters Monday to stop performing the famous ritual at demonstrations.
The Ngati Toa -- a tribe or iwi in Maori -- is recognised under New Zealand law as the cultural guardian of the Ka Mate haka, which has featured prominently at recent protests against coronavirus-related restrictions.
Ngati Toa condemns the use of the Ka Mate haka to push and promote anti-Covid-19-vaccination messages, the tribe, based just outside Wellington, said in a statement.
We insist that protesters stop using our taonga (cultural treasure) immediately.
Maori haka come in many forms but Ka Mate -- which has been performed by the All Blacks ahead of rugby Test matches for more than a century -- is by far the best known.
The foot-stomping, eye-rolling ritual is firmly entrenched in New Zealand culture and is often used at significant social events such as weddings or funerals.
Ka Mate is Ngati Toa's haka, composed by the warrior chief Te Rauparaha around 1820 to celebrate his escape from a rival tribe's pursuing war party.
Parliament passed a law in 2014 recognising Ngati Toa as custodians of the haka, although the legislation does not include penalties if it is misused.
The iwi has previously spoken out against commercialisation of the haka and versions that satirise or disrespect the ritual.
Ngati Toa chief executive Helmut Modlik criticised anti-vaccine protesters for putting individual wishes ahead of the greater good.
Many of our tupuna (ancestors) lost their lives in previous pandemics and our iwi suffered greatly, he said.
We are absolutely clear that the Covid-19 vaccine is the best protection we have available to us, and we are committed to supporting our whanau (family) to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
New Zealand has adopted a tough Covid-19 response, including hard lockdowns and tight border restrictions, which has seen it record only 33 virus deaths in a population of five million.
However, protests have grown amid implementation of no jab, no job policies, attracting several thousand in major cities.
Many of those performing the haka at demonstrations are Maori and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said young indigenous people in particular were facing a barrage of disinformation.
We are struggling to reach some of our young Maori, she told TVNZ.
I have to say, the disinformation that's out there is intense... if they deliberately spread misinformation, they are putting people at risk.