National M.P.s to mark anniversary at Waitangi

Press, 16 December 1985, Page 14

National M.P.s to mark anniversary at Waitangi

PA Wellington National Party members of Parliament will celebrate Waitangi Day at Waitangi and not in Wellington, says the Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay. He said at a press conference that the National member for Whangarei, Mr John Banks, had taken the right course of action in asking the Chief Ombudsman to investigate the decision to transfer the Waitangi Day celebrations to Wellington. Mr Banks had described the venue change as arrogant and unilateral and said he intended to seek an injunction against the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Wetere, and have the matter reviewed in the High Court: „ , Mr McLay said Mr Banks was not challenging what the Minister had done but questioned the advice given to him by the departments of Lands and Survey and Maori Affairs. “We are very angry that without any consultation with the people involved, the Government has simply decided to give in to a small group of radicals who object to the celebration of Waitangi Day,” Mr McLay said. “The Government cannot

rewrite New Zealand history. It can’t pretend that the Treaty of Waitangi was not signed in 1840. “The . vast majority of New Zealanders know that for better or worse it wa; the day on which the Maori and pakeha people of New Zealand came together as a single country. “If we have any day that marks the beginning of New Zealand it must be February 6,” Mr McLay said. “Most of our members of Parliament attending functions will attend the Waitangi celebration on the lawn in front of the Treaty

House. We will be there. I will certainly be there. “If we are invited to go on to the national marae at Pahia we will do that as well.”

When Mr Wetere announced the changed venue earlier this month he said Wellington was the seat of power and the place where decisions were made. The Wellington ceremony in February would focus on the theme of peace. The Waitangi Trust Board would help with an appropriate commemoration ceremony at Waitangi, Mr Wetere said.