New Zealand Waitangi Day Joining Together for a Harmonious Celebration of Nationhood
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New Zealand Waitangi Day Joining together for a harmonious celebration of nationhood On Feb. 6, 1840, the British gov- tarnished by angry protests as sings only in Maori, pointed out ment to settle their historical ernment signed the Treaty of Maori fought to have rights that in an interview with Maori mag- grievances. Waitangi with a number of had been promised to them azine Mana: “In Europe they’ve T oday, although many Maori Maori chiefs at a Bay of Islands under the treaty, honored by the already done the Latin and Celt- live in urban areas, away from settlement called Waitangi. government. However, in recent ic thing — and they’re ready for their tribal regions, their marae The treaty was written in both years, many iwi (tribes) have the Pacific. I’m quite staunch (meeting place) remains an in- Maori and English and handed had their grievances settled by about te reo [language] in my tegral part of their lives. Any visit over governorship of New Zea- the government and Waitangi music. People ask me to trans- to New Zealand is bound to pro- land to the British. It enabled the D ay has become a peaceful cel- late the lyrics and I shrug and vide an encounter with this peaceful purchase of land for ebration of nationhood. say, ‘Why?’” country’s unique Maori culture. settlement and gave the British With nearly one-half of Maori A n encounter that will allow vis- the authority to establish rule in Maori culture language speakers less than 25 itors to experience rich tradi- the country. In return, the Brit- Maori, the indigenous people of years of age, there may come a tions that have been passed on For travelers who are interested in experiencing Maori ish were to guarantee and ac- A otearoa New Zealand, make time when she won’t be asked from generation to generation. culture, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are an essential tively protect Maori tribal Kiwis are native to New Zealand. TOURISM NEW ZEALAND up 15 percent of the population to. itinerary item. DESTINATION NORTHLAND authority over their possessions. and are well represented at the Maori lost much of their land The article is excerpted from The ultimate intention of the The council’s actions slowed been many settlements with highest levels throughout the through European colonization the official website of Tourism Treaty of Waitangi, from the down the government’s sale Maori tribal groups based on country. and over the past decades many New Zealand. For more British perspective, was to pro- program and forced it to enter the treaty that have forced gov- Traditional Maori customs have been compensated for information, visit http://media. tect Maori interests from the en- into negotiations with the ernments to adopt a more con- still play a big part in the lives of their loss. A number of iwi are newzealand.com/en. croaching British settlement, Maori. Its argument was based sultative approach when many modern Maori in New in negotiations with the govern- provide for British settlement on the principle that the Maori developing new policies and Zealand and are an intrinsic and establish a government to ceded governorship to the regulations. Treaty consider- part of Kiwi culture for New Zea- Congratulations maintain peace and order. crown or British in 1840 when ations are now embedded in landers. Nothing arouses the The treaty has proved to be an they signed the Treaty of Wait- many official policies. passion of Kiwis like the haka enduring document. In 1988 angi, but not ownership of as- The signing of the Treaty of the All Blacks go through for when the Labor government sets such as forestry. Forestry Waitangi is commemorated their pre-game ritual; nothing Congratulations tried to sell off state-owned as- was part of the package of assets each year with a national holi- chills like the spine-tingling on the 176th Anniversary sets, the New Zealand Maori the government wanted to in- day on Feb. 6, known as Wait- emotion upon hearing a karakia Council contested its right to do clude in the sale program. angi Day. (prayer). on Waitangi Day so in the courts. Over the years there have In the past, this day has been Probably New Zealand’s best- known international Maori identity is opera diva Dame Kiri of Waitangi Day T e Kanawa. She made her debut at Covent Garden in 1971 and has been a star in the opera world ever since. But Dame Kiri isn’t alone. People such as writ- er Witi Ihimaera, who penned the novel “Whale Rider,” actor T emuera Morrison, film director Lee Tamahori, golfer Michael Congratulations Campbell, artists Cliff Whiting and Shane Cotton, the late poet on the 176th Anniversary Hone Tuwhare and business- man Wally Stone add to the cul- of Waitangi Day ture of Aotearoa. It is a culture that, due to ini- tiatives over recent decades to Keidanren Kaikan, 3-2, Otemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan revitalize Maori language, art and culture, continues to grow from strength to strength. As View of the Auckland seaside suburb of Devonport TOURISM NEW ZEALAND singer Hinewehi Mohi, who PAGE: 5.