Welcome to the Kotahitanga Parliament, the unified Māori legislative body established in 1892. The year is 1901, and the Kotahitanga Parliament stands at a critical crossroads. Over the past decade, this body has been a symbol of hope for the Māori people, created to address the grievances and challenges posed by colonial land confiscation. The devastating impacts of these confiscations – the forced repossession of ancestral lands, disruption of agricultural practices, and the undermining of traditional collective stewardship – have not only eroded the Māori way of life but have also posed significant threats to their economic and cultural survival.

The Parliament must devise strategies to reclaim land, secure economic resources, and rebuild the Māori agricultural base. Furthermore, the severing of ties to ancestral lands has fragmented Māori social structures and eroded cultural practices. It is imperative that ways be found to preserve and revitalize Māori culture and traditions. However, cracks have begun to form within the Parliament. Some members advocate for unity under a Māori king, while others cannot compromise between complete Maori autonomy and continued dialogue with colonial powers. A balance must be found before the Parliament destroys itself from the inside. Amidst these internal struggles, the Parliament must contend with the ever-present shadow of colonial rule. The conflict between colonial forces and the Maori happens all too often and costs the Maori people too much. Māori autonomy continues to be restricted, further complicating efforts to achieve self-determination and moving the Parliament further away from its vision of equal treatment.

The internal fractures, paired with the parliament’s waning resources and ever-present colonial pushback against Maori independence, are actively weakening the Kotahitanga Parliament. To ensure the survival of the parliament, something has to change.

The Dais