4000 At Treaty Anniversary

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32216, 7 February 1970, Page 1

4000 At Treaty Anniversary

(Xew Zealand Press Association/ PAIHIA, February 6. There were more pakehas than Maoris among the 4000 people at the Waitangi Day ceremony tonight.

In perfect conditions—warm and with only the lightest of breezes—the Navy enacted a traditional ceremony to open and close the 130th an-i niversary of the signing of the treaty. With the Navy band providing the musical accompaniment, a 100-strong contingent from H.M.N.Z.S. Blackpool trooped the colour and gave the Royal salute. A 21-gun salute jarred the] grounds of the Treaty House as the Union Jack was hoisted. “Served People Well” Although the terms of the ’ aitangi Treaty had not always been observed, the treaty had nevertheless served the people of New Zealand well, Mr H. Te Heu Heu, chief of the Tuwharetoa tribe and a member of the Waitangi

National Trust Board, said! tonight. He said he was proud to be'] on the sacred grounds where! the treaty was signed, and! praised the northern Maoris, who were ‘by tradition hosts at the annual ceremony. They had considered the treaty a proper thing to sign 130 years ago, and as a result chiefs further south had also done so. Anniversary Day The Governor-General (Sir! Arthur Porritt) said he hoped] it would not be long before; New Zealand Day was recog-l nised throughout the coun-| !try, as it was overseas, as a national annive. :ary day. He said it was a privilege to represent the Queen each ; year on Waitangi Day. i “In Britain it is. always I celebrated as New Zealand Day, and that it is recognised ! as such by many other coun- . tries—both Commonwealth !and foreign—is evidenced by the number of congratulatory messages I receive," he said. “I sincerely hope that be- [ fore very long it will be considered as New Zealand Day, for the simple, dignified message of the Treaty of Waitangi is our signpost of the future.” The Minister of Maori and Island Affairs (Mr Maclntyre) representing the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) at the celebrations, said the 1970 s would be a time for “testing our oft-repeated boasts of being one people.” “In almost every sense I think we can claim that we are one people, and every effort must be made to overcome anything which might tend to divide us.” |