Angeline Greensill

Angeline Ngahina Greensill (born 1948) is a prominent Māori political rights campaigner, academic and leader.

Early life

Greensill is of Tainui, Ngati Porou, and Ngati Paniora descent, born in the late 1940s in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) and raised at Te Kopua (Raglan), Whaingaroa on the turangawaewae of Tainui o Tainui ki Whaingaroa. She was educated at Raglan Primary, Raglan District High School, Hamilton Technical College, Hamilton Teachers College and at Waikato University. She holds a Trained Teachers Certificate, LLB (Bachelor of Laws), Bachelor of Social Sciences with 1st class Honours and is currently completing a Masters of Social Science [cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikatotimes/4296932a6579.html|title=Greensill named for Maori Party |publisher=Waikato Times] . Greensill's first job was as a primary school teacher both in Aotearoa and in Brisbane. Between 1984-1996 while raising her young family, she worked for her hapu as co-ordinator of employment and skills training and conservation programmes for youth in the Raglan Catchment area. After completing a law degree she was employed by University of Waikato in 1999 to teach in the Department of Geography, Tourism and Environmental Planning specialising in treaties, Maori Geography and Resource Management.

The Environment

As an advocate for the protection of the environment [cite web|url=http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=0&id=24769|title=Contaminated kaimoana - thanks but no thanks says Greensill|publisher=InfoNews.co.nz] and for Maori land rights of West Coast whanau and hapu in the Whaingaroa area since the mid-70s, Greensill's legal efforts have been crucial in helping to block human-cow transgenic field trials being conducted by AgResearch Ltd, and helped to educate Maori communities on the implications of Genetic Engineering. Due to her expertise in this field she was interviewed in the documentary film The Leech and the Earthworm by Max Pugh and Marc Silver [cite web|url=http://http://www.ipcb.org/publications/video/files/revp2.html |title=Reviews of the Leech and the Earthworm|publisher=Pequot Times] .

Land Rights

Greensill asssisted in organising the land occupation at the Raglan Golf Course (see Māori protest movement), which played a prominent role in turning the tide to recognise Maori land rights in New Zealand [cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/print/4566205a19807.html|title=Protest day turned the tide|publisher=Waikato Times] . Greensill was with her mother, Eva Rickard, when she was arrested on charges of trespassing. Due to their prolonged legal efforts the land was later returned to the hapu. Greensill was also involved in land occupations at Bastion Point, Awhitu, and others elsewhere.

Political Background

Ms Greensill was co-leader of the Mana Maori Movement, which she called into recess in 2005 so that the combined efforts of that party could be utilised in the founding and promoting of the Maori Party. The Maori Party is now considered to be pivotal in the upcoming New Zealand general election 2008. Greensill has also supported Maori political parties Mana Motuhake, Mana Māori Movement and now the Māori Party as an intermediary step towards influencing change in an MMP environment. Greensill believes that Maori rights, recognised in the 1835 Declaration of Independence, affirmed in Te Tiriti o Waitangi 1840, will one day be realised.

Personal

Greensill is the daughter to Tex and Eva Rickard, political land rights activist, and acknowledges that their activities as political and community activists have influenced how she sees the world, relates to people and the environment that supports all life.

Greensill is the Māori Party candidate standing for the electorate seat of Hauraki-Waikato in the Aotearoa New Zealand general election 2008 [cite web|url=http://tvnzondemand.co.nz/content/marae_2007/ondemand_video_skin?tab=&sb=date-descending&e=marae_2008_ep23#ep_marae_2008_ep23|title=Marae TVNZ (Episode 23, 3 Aug 2008)|publisher=TVNZ] .

See also

* Maori Party
* Eva Rickard
* Raglan
* Tainui
* Māori protest movement
* Bastion Point
* Land rights
* Protest

References and Sources