Waitangi Day marked with solemnity and controversy
Waitangi, February 6, 2020
More than 2500 people gathered this morning at Waitangi to commemorate the 180th anniversary of the Treaty.
People started flooding into the grounds from about 430 am.
Among those offering their prayers were Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Police Commissioner Mike Bush, Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, Treaty Grounds Chairperson Pita Tipene and Chairperson of the Rūnanga a Iwi o Ngāpuhi Mere Mangu.
Ms Ardern spoke of the bridge between two people.
“On this 180th Waitangi Day, let us pledge to take a step across the bridge between our peoples, give us the perseverance in our daily lives to commit to a simple action that helps take us to the other side, and in doing so give us the courage to walk comfortably in each other’s shoes,” she said.
Housing and child poverty
She said that the government must address housing and child poverty before it can begin resolving wider aspirations for Maori.
“New Zealand history should be taught in schools and more children should be learning Te Reo Maori,” she said, calling people to unite in kindness and care towards one another.
She concluded her prayer with the last verse of the national anthem.
After the Service, the Ministers served breakfast.
National Party leader Simon Bridges added the Waitangi Tribunal to the list of what he thinks New Zealand should eventually do away with.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that he wanted to see Māori parents, especially mothers encourage their children to be heroes, whether it is in sport, music or education.
Māori Crown Relations Minister Kelvin Davis said that his vision for the future is for Pākehā and Māori to be comfortable in each other’s worlds.
“Māori have been crossing the bridge into the Pākehā world since before the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. I want Pākehā to cross the bridge into the Māori world, understand the customs and tikanga, so that they do not have to justify why they think and feel the way they do,” he said.
Treaty breaches
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki used his time on the podium to acknowledge the many breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi by the Crown since 1840, including the taking of Māori land.
He also called out the government for its failure to eliminate poverty among Māori.
Former Maori Affairs Minister Sir Pita Sharples said that Hoani Waititi Marae is his dream and that he is proud of what has been achieved.
About 10,000 people streamed into West Auckland’s Hoani Waititi Marae.
The free event included performances by artistes like Kora, Katchafire and Troy Kingi among others.
There are also kai stalls and carnival rides on offer.
