Massey staff cover up ‘Honour Te Tiriti’ and ‘Free Gaza’ tags

Massey University claims to be a Te Tiriti o Waitangi led institution, despite staff covering up tags on the Wellington campus that say ‘Honour Te Tiriti’ and ‘Free Gaza’.  

The tags first appeared in February and were covered in April. Photo / Massive

Student association Manawhakahere (Māori president), Cameron McCausland-Taylor felt the cover up was censoring student voice.  

“I don’t feel like they should be allowed to do that.” 

This comes as students nationwide protested on Thursday against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.  

Late last year, protesting sparked after the government proposed the Treaty Principles Bill, that would redefine The Treaty of Waitangi. 

The tags were seen around campus in February and were covered sometime in April.  

Unknown Wellington activists had been tagging the slogans around the city. 

Taylor said the ‘Honour Te Tiriti’ tags should theoretically honour Massey’s reputation as a Te Tiriti led institution.  

She said the graffiti looked small and felt it wouldn’t damage Massey’s reputation.  

Regarding the ‘Free Gaza’ tag, Taylor personally saw the student association honouring Te Tiriti and standing in solidarity with Palestine to be intertwined.  

“If the university wants to claim to be Te Tiriti led and open all these doors and educate people, then let them express their appreciation for it.

“You can’t encourage those skills and then shoot them down when they don’t suit you.” 

Shelley Turner, deputy vice-chancellor university services said, “We can confirm a staff member covered over the messaging, as is normal practice with graffiti/unauthorised artwork. 

“However in this instance, we should have considered the wider implications of this action, and would like to apologise for any perceived bias or otherwise. 

“We respect the academic freedom of our staff and students and recognise there will be a range of views within our community.”  

Last August, a similar case happened when two students were trespassed from the Manawatū campus on open day after chalking “save our papers” outside the library and science buildings.  

The security guard called the chalking “vandalism”. 

The university has not made a stance on the genocide occurring in Gaza, a spokesperson saying it has done what is “appropriate”.