MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Ed Said - Waitangi? Why worryWhile long weekends can be welcoming breaks, short weeks can be a bit trying for business people with deadlines to meet. Following on the heels of Christmas and New Year we caught our breath, headed back into the work routine only to be interrupted by Auckland Anniversary weekend.
It is observed throughout the historic Auckland Province (even though the provinces of New Zealand were abolished in 1876) and celebrates the arrival of William Hobson, later the first Governor of New Zealand in 1840. Generally little thought is given to our erstwhile leader but celebrations, such as they are, include the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, the largest single-day regatta of its kind in the world and is a sight to behold on Auckland Harbour. This is followed by Waitangi Day which, arguably, should be THE national day of New Zealand. This commemorates the signing on 6 February 1840 of the Treaty of Waitangi, which is regarded as New Zealand’s founding document. The treaty was signed by representatives acting on behalf of the British Crown and about 43 Maori chiefs. British representative and co-author of the Treaty, Captain Hobson, proclaimed to each chief “Iwi Tahi tatou” – We are all one. Over the course of the next seven months, copies of the treaty were toured around the country to give other chiefs the opportunity to sign. The signing had the effect of securing British sovereignty over the islands of New Zealand, which was officially proclaimed on 21 May 1840. The day was observed annually and subsequently designated a public holiday. Unfortunately in recent times any reverence towards the occasion has given way to protests, mud-slinging (literally) and politicking and has become more separatist than it ever was rather than a celebration of any sort of unity or agreement. As time has progressed modern generations of Maori claim the day as an opportunity to harangue the government of the day over what they see as past wrongs, failing to or refusing to accept the passing of time which cannot be reclaimed and that all races are becoming more integrated with the passing of time. Much of this angst is also carried over to social media visited by a number of millennials who persist in feudal and confrontational repertoire to no good end whatsoever. This, being an election year, has allowed the rostrum to become the forum for political sniping, abuse and innuendo between political factions. Others take part simply to make up numbers, enjoy some media exposure and several days of free food while 99 per cent of the country couldn’t care less because it forms part of a long weekend – the last long weekend of summer – and a harbinger to ‘normal’ work and school routine for the majority of the population. I note the Magna Carta (The Great Charter of Liberty), Britain’s founding document, signed in England in 1215 carries no such celebratory occasion but rests quietly in the British National Library. However, it remains a document of monumental historical importance but nothing more. Personally I believe the Treaty of Waitangi could well follow a similar path. Rob Pooley, Editor |