Waitangi Day

[Cam_NZ]

Well Waitangi 2002 has come and gone, with out much of a debacle as other years have seen. So why is this day seen as a holiday of so called "tension" between Maori and Pakeha. Or is the holiday seen more of as Briscoes 50% clear out sale! hehe. I my self have no gripes about the day, except for the Maori Bashing,patronising, potray Maori protestors as RADICALS, media. When does a protestor become a Radical or an Activist, ive never heard a pakeha or anyone else for that matter labled this. It reminds me of a Billy T joke about "when Pakeha attacked Maori it was called a Battle, but when Maori attacked Pakeha it was called a massacre" hehe. Sure there are the few dorks who climb the flag staff and try to replace the odd flag, but who cares. This year the focus was on, Would Harawira hold Helen Calrkes hands at Te Tii Marae. WHO CARES!!!!!!!. Settle the dam treaty, and stop worrying about how Helens emotions are gonna hold up on the day. enough with the waterworks enough with the protestors, until we honour the treaty, Aotearoa's national day will remain as it has the
Briscoes 50% Sale from now on till wednesday or even worse the Warehouse.

[Letisia]

I've read the Treaty many times. Of course me being a New Zealand citizen and maori, I don't know about all that. I believe that what the majority of my people are doing, with the exception of violence is the right thing. It doesn't look like a treaty that really covers the rights of those who are maori and own their specific lands. The way I see it is, The treaty was meant to protect those of the royal family or british decent, guaranteeing that we not only comply, but ensure that their needs would be met.
I cannot say that the people of today are at fault for wanting to object and protest that what is on the treaty. Remember in the days the Treaty was made, I doubt my people were even educated or understood exactly what they were signing. Whatever the reason maybe those today have every right to try to protest whatever they want to protest as long as it in the realm of understanding and compromise. Nobody likes a hothead.
Celebrate the day sure, Its Tradition, but understand the Maori do not stand down, you know that, I know that.

[Cam_NZ]

Thanks for replying

I was starting to think no one in this forum had anything to say on the Treaty, i was also begining to think i was the only one in this forum hehe. Im not sure that Maori did not understand the Treaty. As we all know the Treaty was written in both Maori and English, both versions are nearly the same except for a couple crucial words. The English version in summary stated

Maori give pre-emption of land sale to the crown
Maori give up their soverignty of themselves and their land to the Queen of England
in return >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Maori keep the Flora, Fauna, Oceans and waterways etc with full authority over-all inclusive of any thing material or in-material that could be considered as Taonga e.g. Language
Maori were given all rights as British subjects>>>>>>>>

The Maori version was virtually the same but soveriegnty was replaced with governership. This one difference has caused most of the uproar. Out of the 500 Maori chiefs who signed the Treaty only 4 signed the English version. The rest signed the Maori version which gave not soveriegnty but governership to the Queen.

So if your ancestors were not educated, but could speak Maori, then im sure that they could comprehend the Treaty. It was the Maori version that went around the country for Maori to sign.

In my veiw i reckon signing the Treaty was the best thing that Maori could ever have done for themselves. I mean look at the Aboriginies, they were classed as Flora and Fauna right up to the 1970's. We as Maori could be alot worse off.

To all out there, what are your opinions>>>>

[Prowd_Keewee]

One thing i agree with is the switching of the name Waitangi Day to New Zealand day.

It is the founding day of our nation and should be celebrated by all New Zealanders. I would consider settling all this treaty bull****(I know it is not as easy as it sounds) and writing a new Consitutional Agreement for our nation, not between the crown, but between the Pakeha and the Maori people of New Zealand.

Waitangi Day has dragged on for years and is always remembered as a day of protests and racial conflict. What is the point of celebrating a National day in this type of environment?? Something has to be changed.

Cheerz.