THE WAITANGI ORATION by THE HON. J. R. HANAN Although by the time this appears, Waitangi will be long past, we feel that the Hon J. R. Hanan's address was of such eloquence and distinction as to warrant its record in a more permanent form than its abridged quotations in newspapers. This is the full text of Mr Hanan's speech. Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: Today, for the first time, we celebrate Waitangi Day as New Zealand's National Day, under the Statute of 1960. On this day, 121 years ago, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed here—and a new nation was born.

ONE PEOPLE As each Maori chief appended his signature, Captain Hobson is reputed to have said: He iwi kotahi tatou We are now one people. Although we are indeed one people—which is of great significance in a world torn by differences between racial groups—yet we must not overlook certain differences that do exist between the Maori and the Pakeha. However close we have been in the past, we are destined to be much closer in the future. Only in very recent times has it been appreciated that the urbanisation of the Maori is inevitable. Farming will never support more than a handful. Even when all Maori land is developed, it will support fewer than 4,000 more Maori farmers. The rest of the Maori people will find work only in or near the towns. At present, on the one hand, there is one Maori in town for every three in the country: on the other hand, there are two Europeans in town for every one in the country. The distribution of European population represents the real distribution of available jobs. The urban migration of the Maori in search of work will go on till their distribution nearly coincides with that of the Pakeha. We cannot afford wastage of such a potential work force as the Maori people now constitute. So in the Maori interest and in the national interest, we must welcome, plan, and provide for a redistribution of Maori people.

GOOD NEIGHBOURS This will put our much-vaunted and in the main justified claim to racial harmony to a much stiffer test than it has ever been subject to before. For as the Maori people move from their rural isolation to town and city, Maori and Pakeha will increasingly become neighbours. The Pakeha must be ready to accept the fact that his next-door neighbour is a Maori. So too, the Maori. Town life will certainly bring the two peoples closer, but on what terms? As Minister of Maori Affairs I must, on this our National Day, which symbolises our national unity, speak plainly on behalf of the Maori people. Here, where the die of racial harmony was cast, let us look honestly at the picture today. Though much has been achieved, I am sure you will all agree that the picture could be better. Much remains to be done.

DISTURBING SIGNS Today, there are disturbing signs and trends which, if not checked, could easily lead to a racial problem. 1. Maori Health and span of life are still too far below the European standard. 2. Nearly a third of the Maori people live in grossly overcrowded conditions. 3. One in every seven Maori houses is substandard. 4. Half a million acres of good Maori land lie idle and neglected. 5. 120,000 Maoris live in the country whereas employment is to be found mainly in the towns. 6. The Maori people should have three times as many apprentices and eight times as many University students. 7. The Maori crime rate is 3 ½ times the European. These problems are urgent. They are the problems of all New Zealanders. We must find and apply the remedies now. (Continued on page 34)