Veteran activist Tāme Iti on racism, te reo Māori, and how art saved his life
Tāme Iti reflects on fifty years of Māori activism, from the frontlines of protest to the healing power of art. We talk te reo, his new memoir, and questioning the status quo.
For more than five decades, Tāme Iti has been at the forefront of the pursuit of Māori rights in Aotearoa.
From being silenced from speaking te reo as a child, to finding strength in protest and tackling challenges head-on in remarkable ways, he has never stopped questioning the status quo.
Tāme is as well known and respected for his art as for his activism, and says the former saved his life and played a vital role in his healing.
This conversation, alongside reading his new memoir Mana, came at an especially meaningful time for me. I hope you enjoy this kōrero.