N.Z. 1990 Commission to ‘avoid cultural clash’

Press, 22 July 1988, Page 2

N.Z. 1990 Commission to ‘avoid cultural clash’

By

JANE ENGLAND,

Maori affairs reporter

The New Zealand 1990 Commission, formed to organise the commemoration of several national anniversaries, will attempt to avoid the cultural clash which surfaced during the Australian bicentennial celebrations.

A heavy schedule of events with a Maori contingency has been planned for the official launch of the South Island section of the commission in Christchurch.

The private ceremony which will be held at the Town Hall next Friday will be attended by 200 invited guests. The function will be attended by the chairman

of the commission and Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr Bassett. The itinerary will include performances by children from local kohanga reo and the presentation of videos depicting the aims of the commission.

The commission has been formed to mark the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, 1000 years of known habitation in New Zealand, 150 years of settlement in Auckland and Wellington, the hundredth anniversary of the electoral system, trade union solidarity and the Welfare State, and the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign. The project will be sup-

ported by a combination of Government and commercial funding. A variety of programmes will be implemented to promote the role of various cultures in New Zealand, build on the partnership espoused in the treaty, and enhance the awareness of the history of the nation and its role in the Pacific.

The commission board consists of 13 New Zealanders who were' appointed by the Cabinet for the task.

The South Island branch of the commission will work from the Internal Affairs Department in Christchurch, Ms Devon Hotop acting as the South Island 1990 commission co-ordinator.