Lush supports ActionStation petition calling on Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa - The New Zealand Government to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

From January 30th, Lush stores across the country will hold impactful conversations with customers on what it means to be tangata Tiriti and encourage everyone to sign the petition calling on the government to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  

This is a pivotal moment in Aotearoa’s history, we are facing a coalition government who are undermining efforts for a healthier, more unified society for future generations by removing or rewriting legislative Te Tiriti commitments, restricting the use of te reo Māori, repealing laws and withdrawing funding from initiatives that seek to heal and rebalance inequities caused by colonisation. Whilst spouting racist rhetoric with the aim of dividing us from each other. 

These actions reach far beyond this current Government's mandate. They don’t align with the unity and respect for each other that most people value in our daily interactions in our places of work, faith, learning, and community. 

As a company that has been actively campaigning for social justice since 1995, our aim is to raise awareness and understanding, so that every person in Aotearoa has a fair understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how it unites us. This is why we have collaborated with ActionStation to share the petition calling on the government to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  

We know that by honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi we can lay the foundations for a future where all people can feel a deep sense of belonging in Aotearoa. We understand that whānau, hapū, and iwi, having the power and resources to determine their own futures (tino rangatiratanga), as was promised in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, creates a better society for us all. We know that when Māori are empowered, all our lives are enriched. We know the potential that learning from our past, healing the harms of colonisation and bringing reciprocity and balance to our relationships, holds for our collective future.  It has taken us a long time to get to this point, and there is still so much to achieve together. Now is the time to stand up and show the Government that we intend to stay on course. That instead of being divided, we are determined to remain united, to grow and strengthen the relationships we have built, and continue to work together for a just and flourishing Aotearoa for all. 

There will be many ways you can take action on this important issue in the coming days, weeks and months. One thing you can do today is sign this petition calling on Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa - The New Zealand Government to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

References - ActionStation petition

Learn more about the petition here
Visit your local Lush to ignite powerful conversations