N.Z. gets egg on face in London ‘siege’

Press, 27 February 1986, Page 2

N.Z. gets egg on face in London ‘siege’

By

KEVIN RICKETTS,

AAP correspondent London The New Zealand High Commission in London has been under telephonic “siege” for two days as angry Britons vent their spleen over the Royal tour egg-throwing incident.

Nowhere was the siege more personally acute than at the desk of the First Secretary (press and information), Mr Rau Kirikirl, who has had to tread verbally a thin line between his official and traditional loyalties. “I have only been here five weeks, but as a Maori and official spokesman most of the calls have been coming to me,” said Mr Kirikiri.

“I have been quite busy — in fact, answering abusive calls and those from the British news media is all I have been doing for the last two days. “What am I to ’say to people, especially when they don’t , and won’t understand?

“I am saying that not all New Zealanders feel the way of the alleged egg-throwers and that, in any case, abusive behaviour is not the way to handle problems.”

Apart from the calls from the • 8.8. C. on the lines of “Look, old chap, you’re a Maori and what is this fuss all about?” most of the calls have castigated Mr Kirikiri and New Zealanders in general for the “deplorable, blasphemous” events in Auckland two days ago.

“Most of the callers, such as one from a little old lady, have said: ‘Our beautiful Queen — how can anyone think of throwing eggs at her?’

“There is not much of a reply you can give to that. “Some have tried to be abusive, even obscene, but most fall short in their use and array of swear words.

“Another said: ‘Unfortunately New Zealand is so small they haven’t reached our standard yet.’ “I mean, they could have been talking about Australia., How would you feel?” Mr Kirikiri said he had “very personal views” about the Treaty of Waitangi, a 146-year-old document originally signed by Maori chiefs swearing allegiance to the Queen. He said some Maoris felt guarantees on land and fishing rights had not been honoured. “I have some sympathy for the cause, but not the course these people took,” he said.

“Personally I feel aggrieved by some of the treaty’s provisions, and long-term effects they have had on my people.” Further reports, page 19