Radical Maori remits fail

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 3

Radical Maori remits fail

The . strong sympathy for things Maori did not extend to radical proposals and the conference confirmed a steady and measured improvement in Maori affairs.

Impassioned pleas were made to pass two radical remits:

9 That “Aotearoa” be the official name for New Zealand. • That there be no further visits of royalty to Aotearoa until the Treaty of Waitangi is honoured.

One delegate was greeted with tumultous applause when she said there should be no visits at all “by the Queen of England and her sponging family.”

Both remits were lost overwhelmingly. Delegates were full of guilt about the way Maoris have been treated during the last 150 years and the occasional fear about a possible “white backlash” was only muted.

When it came to policy, however, the support was

for the moderate and specific remits. For example, there was support for the koru being the basis of a new New Zealand flag, but others liked the thought of a hei tiki, or kiwi, or silver fern. Universal support was shown for doing away with the Union Jack.

The adoption of a 10year programme of teacher training and the production of support material to enable the Maori language and local history to be taught competently at all schools was supported. But there was no support for Government funds to be available on Waitangi Day for all tribes to meet in their local areas to discuss matters relevant to them or for a two-day hui to be held on Waitangi marae before Waitangi Day as an annual event

Delegates, Maori and non-Maori, were happy with the steady progress and were happy with the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Wetere.