Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day is a public holiday in New Zealand, it celebrates the signing of the Waitangi Treaty in 1840. The treaty is an accord between the Maori and the English settlers promising certain things to each party including:

• Sovereignty of New Zealand to the Queen of England
• A guarantee to the chiefs of continued chieftainship and ownership of their lands and treasures. Specifying that Maori can only sell their land to the Government
• Guarantee to all Maori the same rights as other British people.

Unfortunately the treaty is written in English and Maori and the two versions don’t quite translate as the same thing.

Anyway it all worked OK for about 10-15 years before the flood of incoming settlers encouraged the government to allow companies to take over land settlement; this meant huge rip-offs for Maori, resulting in war, and eventually a downtrodden race.

It's taken a turn for the better since the 1975 when the government recognised the treaty and allowed it to become part of the law and Maori could claim settlements for past wrongs. There is a long way to go and there will always be grievances, but we are trying and it's probably better than the Australians and Americans are doing with their indigenous people?


Anyway it’s a public holiday and it was a bonny day so we went to the beach. Brighton Beach. And so did a lot of other people. Took our body boards and caught some great waves, Wheeeew!