Waitangi Day

Press, 10 February 1983, Page 16

Waitangi Day

Sir,—You report the speeches of the Governor-Gen-eral and the Deputy Prime Minister (“The Press,” February 7) at the Waitangi Day observance. It is hard to credit that two of our most senior citizens could accidentally make so many inaccurate and misleading statements. Mr Maclntyre criticises those who now wish to repudiate the “contract” of the treaty. This was repudiated by whites in the constitution of 1852 which failed to incorporate any of the provisions of the treaty except the Crown right of exclusive pre-emption of land. Sir David Beattie approvingly quotes Sir Apirana Ngata, quoting Chief Nopera Panakareao, who in May, 1840, said: “The shadow of the land goes to Queen

Victoria but the substance remains to us.” Sir David fails to report that by January, 1841. chief Nopera had changed his view: “The substance of the land goes to the Europeans, the shadow only will be our portion.” (The Shadow of the Land; Ward) —Yours, etc.. H. R. THORPE. RHONA M. THORPE. February 8. 1983.

Sir,—The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Maclntyre, asserts that Waitangi Day celebrations are commemorating “a great experiment” which began on that day. The results of that so-called experiment are endless injustices towards the Maori people who do not have equal opportunities and rights. In matters of housing, education, employment and health there are gross discrepancies between races. Loss of land, language and culture has robbed many Maori people of their true identity: Pakeha materialism has. swamped the values of corporate personhood. pride and dignity. It was a sickening sight to see the whole weight of the establishment arrayed against those people who would have the myths of Waitangi dispelled and the light of truth displayed, in order to shore up the creaking foundations of this racially oppressive society. It seems that the whole sorry show must go on regardless, but I, for one, cannot feel a sense of national pride when confronted with such a spectacle. — Yours, etc., HEATHER DOCKERY. February 7, 1983.

Sir—ln "The Press" of Monday, February 7. Sir David Beattie quotes Sir Apirana Ngata, referring to one of the local chiefs, who said: “It is the shadow of the land which has been given to the Queen while the soil remains.” The chief referred to is Nopera Panakareao. He made the above statement in May, 1840. Seven months later in January. 1841, he revoked this by stating: “The substance of the land goes to the Europeans, the shadow only will be our portion.” — Yours, etc., K. GALLAGHER, R. SEAGAR. February 7, 1983.

Sir.—The annual rumpus relating to Waitangi Day has long since got out of hand and in the interest of law and order should be scrapped. This wellmeaning anniversary is a legacy left by the late Norman Kirk who made Waitangi Day a public holiday on behalf of the State. Since that time the political activists have exploited the Maori-pakeha situation on the same lines as South African apartheid and Waitangi Day will continue to be bugged

by the Communist element operating in this country today—Yours, etc., L. WESTNEY. February 7, 1983. Sir,—The Treaty of Waitangi. agreeably, was brought about to create harmony in New Zealand between all races. Dissension and antagonism have only been created in the last few years — why? It is also interesting to note that two of the eight rules devised by the founders of communism for the destruction of democratic societies are to divide the people into hostile groups and to get control of all means of publicity. So unfortunately disruptive protesters have much publicity and encouragement from the- news media which tends to create an effect of majority rather than the tiny minority the groups really are. Why? It seems to me this is another step in the erosion of individuals’ rights.—Yours, etc., DORRIE E. VOSSELER. February 7, 1983.

Sir,—Waitangi Day has been again so out come the old cries of “rip-offs” and “hard donebys.” I did not ask to be born white. Also, am I not entitled to be a New Zealander as my father and his father, and all my poor relations have toiled and sweated to make New Zealand a country to be proud of. Roads, schools and social services were not earned off the backs of Maori people alone so let us just forget about making me the whipping boy for a generation I did not even know. If they do not like Waitangi Day then forget it and take it off the calendar.— Yours, etc.,

R. J. DICKSON February 7, 1983.