Govt refuses to stop Waitangi celebrations

Press, 9 November 1983, Page 6

Govt refuses to stop Waitangi celebrations

PA Wellington A request from Maori groups to have the Waitangi celebrations next year cancelled and not held until their grievances were solved was refused by the Government yesterday. But the Minister of Lands, Mr Elworthy, has offered to try to have the Parliamentary select committee studying the Maori Affairs Bill sit at Waitangi at the same time as the celebrations.

The offer was favourably received by Ms Eva Rickard, the chairman of the Kotahitanga United Tribal Council “Our people seemed very pleased about it,” she said.

When asked whether she thought the select committee sitting at Waitangi could solve many of the Maori grievances, Ms Rickard said, “I have my doubts, but it is al beginning. I like the fact t|at they are going to sit. It will give my old

people a chance to speak. But you will get a lot of young people very sceptical.”

Mr Elworthy said: “We are committed to proceed with the commemorations and I think the vast majority of New Zealanders want us to.

“If we can offer an opportunity for those who wish to talk with the body of people who are going to change the law at the same time (as the celebrations) it seems to me that that would be a reasonable peace offer.”

He said that the Maori Affairs Bill, which dealt with the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi, would be introduced into Parliament this session.

Ms Rickard said the Government’s offer was the beginning of an attempt' to “put the ghost of New Zealand politics - the Treaty of Waitangi — once all into its bed.”