Not a counter-protest, but countering hate: the Toitū Te Aroha movement

NEWS | TUAKIRI / IDENTITY

Written by Caeden Tipler (they/them) @caedentipler | Contributing Reporter

Photography by Michelle Beard

On January 31st, thousands gathered in Tāmaki Makaurau under the banner Toitū Te Aroha. The rally and hīkoi from Te Komititanga Britomart to Te Waihorotiu Meyers Park focused on countering hate toward a range of demographics, including migrants, refugees, LGBTQIA+ people, faith groups, and tangata whenua. The diversity of the group was shown in the flags they were waving, ranging from the Tino Rangatiratanga flag to the official flag of New Zealand. 

Toitū Te Aroha was founded by a group of tangata whenua organisers who came together with the intention of uniting communities who have been impacted by hate. This came in the wake of anti-migrant, LGBTQ+, and religious minority protests from the fundamentalist Destiny Church and associated groups. Notably including their storming of a library in West Auckland during Pride Month last year, and their more recent disruptions of two peaceful Sikh religious processions. 

On the same day as the Toitū Te Aroha protest, a new group associated with Destiny Church, True Patriots of New Zealand, held its own protest in the Tāmaki Makaurau city centre. The True Patriots aimed to make as much noise as possible, trying and failing to cross the Harbour Bridge. Their rally was focused on anti-immigration, with banners displaying slogans like “this is NZ, not India.”  

According to Toitū Te Aroha spokesperson Bianca Ranson (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa), the purpose of the rally wasn’t to counterprotest. The hīkoi was “centred in our own aroha for our communities and coming together in our own mana to show we celebrate our diversity. We celebrate our communities, and our diversity is what makes us a thriving and flourishing country.” 

For Ranson, the Toitū Te Aroha movement has a deeper meaning because of her involvement with the Kaiāwhina, a community care and self-defence group born out of the pro-Palestine movement in Tāmaki Makaurau. She’s seen firsthand what happens when Destiny Church shows up to peaceful protests to stir the pot.

As Ranson notes, the risk of violence and hate “hasn’t just been limited to the rainbow community or the Sikh community. It’s even been towards school children at the school strike for climate.”

They make it clear that haka, and Māori culture more broadly, shouldn’t be used in the way Destiny Church has “weaponised” it to create fear amongst communities. She added that they do not represent tangata whenua, as proven by the display of unity at the Toitū Te Aroha rally. 

However, now that Toitū Te Aroha has an established presence and Destiny Church shows no sign of slowing down, the question is: what is next for the movement?

While the kaupapa is wide-reaching, the group had four key demands. These are: 

1. Recognise organised harassment as a serious threat and respond decisively.

2. Protect public and community spaces, including schools, libraries, and places of worship.

3. Ensure consequences for leaders and groups who repeatedly target and harass communities.

4. Affirm the right of all communities to exist, gather, and practise their culture and faith safely.

On future protests and other activities, Ranson says, “January 31st was our launch”. 

Since then, several spokespeople from Toitū Te Aroha attended Waitangi. There, Fatima Sanussi, who is of Sudanese and Ethiopian descent, spoke on the connection between honouring Te Tiriti and African struggles against imperialism. Additionally, Rana Hamida, who is Palestinian and joined the global flotilla to Gaza last Spring, spoke out against the coalition government removing Te Tiriti from legislation. As put by Ranson, “it was a way to commit to and strengthen our shared struggles. We hope to grow on that for next year.” 

The group's priorities are focused on safety in every event and action, as well as wānanga within the group, and with allies and community leaders. They’re supporting the Toitū: Visual Sovereignty event on March 1st. There will be more to come in the lead-up to the election; a town hall is on the horizon, for example. 

What remains consistent is the group's readiness to step up for any communities that need their support. Their four key demands, as listed earlier in this article, remain ongoing, included as part of their active petition on OurActionStation. 

In Ranson’s words, “Our right to peaceful protest has really been violated. Some of the actions we’ve seen have been escalating. [...] People have the right to be able to gather to raise issues and celebrate who they are in a way that is safe from this very targeted harassment and intimidation.”

“We can stand side-by-side in aroha and acceptance, and stand in mana together.”