Treaty of Waitangi

Press, 23 February 1989, Page 12

Treaty of Waitangi

Sir,—The Union Jack actually symbolises the armed take-over

of Scotland and Wales by England. On Waitangi Day it flew above the annual celebrations at Okains Bay, symbolising the armed take-over of Aotearoa by England. The British Crown signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. It has never honoured its side of the treaty. In fact, it has breached the treaty repeatedly and with violence in order to steal Maori land and impose the British way of life here. What, then, gives pakeha people like Helen Garrett and Alf’s Imperial Army (of all people) the right to celebrate the treaty? Until the treaty is at last honoured, such celebrations, which ignore the real history of this country, are far more likely to promote division and so-called “separatism” than any amount of protests. They must be stopped. — Yours, etc., JOE DAVIES. February 20, 1989. Sir,—Mrs G. L. Lulham (February 17) is quite correct in her statement that those who call themselves Maoris are mostly part-pakeha. Therefore, any privileges for Maoris under this treaty do not apply today. Let us all be New Zealanders and proud to be so. Mixed races make good Kiwis. — Yours, etc., T. L. EVANS. February 20, 1989.