Celebrations expected to be trouble-free

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 9

Celebrations expected to be trouble-free

Organisers of Waitangi Day celebrations at Okains Bay on Friday, predict problem-free festivities this year. The curator of the Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum, Mr Murray Thacker, said many attractions had been planned and organisers were not expecting any disruption by the Waitangi Action and Learning Coalition, which organised last year’s protest. A spokeswoman for the coalition, Ms Yolanda Wisewitch, said it would support members of the Ngai Tahu Trust Board attending the celebrations. She said a protest had not been planned because the coalition wanted to support the land claim grievances of the Ngai Tahu Trust The chairman of the Ngai Tahu Trust Board, Mr Tipene O’Regan, said it was the first year the whole board had attended the Okains Bay celebra-

tions. In the past, representatives had gone along. He said the board’s viewpoint in previous years had been altered by changes to legislation in the Treaty of Waitangi Amendment Act and the board now “felt free” to attend. “We are very supportive of the intention of the Crown and the New Zealand Government in respect of the treaty,” he said. Mr O’Regan said a range of issues would be discussed at the celebrations on Friday. “We will be referring to land claims and a whole range of things in the context of New Zealand as a bicultural society,” lie said. . , Mr Thacker was pleased the board had decided to attend. He said the board had plans to make a war canoe which would |t>e ready for the 1990 ceHebrattohsA > The celebrations ’will

begin with the arrival of the Governor-General’s representative, Mr Hori Brennan, and other official guests at 10.30 a.m. Other events have been organised to observe Waitangi Day. The Waitangi Action and Learning Coalition will hold a public forum at the Horticultural Hall this evening. Guest speakers will include Canon Hone Kaa, an Auckland University law lecturer, Ms Jane Kelsey, and a Ngai Tahu Trust Board member, Mr Riki Tau. Tomorrow the coalition will run a stall in Cathedral Square where literature will be available and members will discuss issues with interested members of the public. The coalition will : hold a rally tomorrow at 7.30 p.m. against the celebrations. This will also be held in Cathedral Square.