Significance of 1990 ‘cannot be ignored’

Press, 13 April 1989, Page 37

Significance of 1990 ‘cannot be ignored’

By TONY VERDON in London Commonwealth Games organisers could not ignore the fact that the Games was being held in what was a significant year for New Zealand, the chairman of the United Kingdom/New Zealand 1990 Committee, Sir Alan Trail, said in London. To do so would not do justice to the tolerance of New Zealand, said Sir Alan, a former Lord Mayor of London, who was reporting to the committee on a trip to New Zealand last month. Sir Alan said that while in Auckland he had been disappointed a Games official had said it was only a coincidence the Games was being held in Auckland in 1991. The official had intimated the Games did not want to have anything to do with the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. But Sir Alan said he reminded the official that the Games had been awarded to Auckland because 1990 was a signifi-

cant year for New Zealand. After the meeting Sir Alan told reporters that the Games organisers were doing a splendid job. “But I do not think it would ever be right to forget, even when you are organising the games, that 1990 is such a special year for New Zealand,” he said. Sir Alan said his recent trip to New Zealand had convinced him the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the treaty was totally appropriate, and that it should be supported. He said that apart from Princess Anne agreeing to become patron of the U.K./N.Z. 1990 Committee, the British Government had agreed it would be represented by a senior Government figure at the U.K./N.Z. Conference on economic and social reform, to be held at Windsor in September. The conference is part of the committee’s programme of events marking the commemoration in Britain, from August this year to September next year.