Sir Paul’s Waitangi decision disappoints

Press, 31 January 1986, Page 2

Sir Paul’s Waitangi decision disappoints

PA Wellington The decision by the Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves, not to attend celebrations at Waitangi could lead to a hardening of New Zealand race relations, said the member of Parliament for Northern Maori, Dr Bruce Gregory, yesterday. Sir Paul would attend the Government’s Waitangi Day reception at Wellington, said his official secretary, Mr Paul Canham. The Minister of Lands, Mr Wetere, announced last month that the

official Government observance of Waitangi Day would be moved from Waitangi to Wellington this year. He said it was likely that the Tai Tokerau people would arrange a local ceremony at Waitangi.

An invitation for Sir Paul to attend the local ceremony to be held by northern tribes was sent by the Mayor of Whangarei, Mrs Joyce Ryan, and Dr Gregory. Dr Gregory said yesterday he was disappointed and saddened by Sir

Paul’s decision.

“But I respect he had to make a difficult decision,” he said. The invitation had been a chance to bring Maori and pakeha together on a “more confident basis,” but this could be more difficult now.

Dr Gregory said there was no reason the invitation could not be extended again in future years. He said there was an obligation to Waitangi and that “important document.”

The decision could bring “a hardening on

both sides, and it may be harder to rekindle hopes and aspirations,” Dr Gregory said. "Things could have been much easier if he had attended,” he said. The Minister of Internal Affairs, and member of Parliament for Eastern Maori, Mr Tapsell, said members of Parliament from the four Maori seats should attend the celebrations at Waitangi.

The decision of Sir Paul not to go to Waitangi was made after consultation with the Government. Yesterday the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, would not comment.

He said Waitangi Day would be marked by a Government reception in the Beehive banquet hall. There would be no military guard of honour or salute.