Waitangi Day - Controversy and Protest, Celebrations

The national day of New Zealand (6 Feb), commemorating the Treaty of Waitangi made between Britain and the Maori chiefs in 1840.

Waitangi Day is a public holiday in New Zealand held each year on February 6 to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840. A draft of the treaty had been presented to the local Māori chiefs the previous day and Governor William Hobson had returned to his ship, HMS Herald, anchored in the bay, expecting the Māori to discuss the treaty for a day and possibly sign it on the morning of February 7. However, Māori had debated signing the treaty later into the night and appeared to have presumed the treaty would be signed in the morning of February 6 and did not have enough food to wait another day.

Early celebrations

The first Waitangi Day was not celebrated until 1934.

Public Holiday

Waitangi Day was proposed as a public holiday by the Labour Party in their 1957 party manifesto. After Labour won the election they were reluctant to create a new public holiday, so legislation was first passed in 1960 making it possible for a locality to substitute Waitangi Day as an alternative to an existing public holiday. In 1963, after a change in government, Waitangi Day was substituted for Auckland Anniversary Day as the provincial holiday in Northland.

New Zealand Day

In 1971 the Labour shadow minister of Māori Affairs, Matiu Rata, introduced a private members' bill to make Waitangi Day a national holiday, to be called New Zealand Day.

After the 1972 election of a new Labour government under Norman Kirk, it was announced that from 1974 Waitangi Day would be a national holiday known as New Zealand Day.

For Norman Kirk, the change was simply an acceptance that New Zealand was ready to move towards a broader concept of nationhood. Diplomatic posts had for some years marked the day, and it seemed timely in view of the country's increasing role on the international stage that the national day be known as New Zealand Day. At the 1974 celebrations, the Flag of New Zealand was flown for the first time at the top of the flagstaff at Waitangi, rather than the Union Flag, and a replica of the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand was also flown.

The re-election of the National Party in 1975 led to the day being renamed Waitangi Day, as the new Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon did not like the name "New Zealand Day".

Revival

United Future New Zealand leader Peter Dunne currently has a Bill before the Justice and Electoral Select Committee to consider renaming Waitangi Day again back to New Zealand Day. The proposed legislation received support from Labour, National, Act, New Zealand First and United Future but not the Māori Party and the Greens.

Critics of the Bill argue that renaming Watangi Day would detract from the Treaty's relevance in New Zealand's contemporary society, or that a better more suitable day of national celebration could be found - such as reviving Dominion Day.

See also: Independence of New Zealand

Controversy and Protest

Although this is New Zealand's national day, the commemoration has often been the focus of protest by Māori activists, and is often marred by controversy. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Waitangi,and Waitangi Day became a focus of protest concerning treaty injustices.

Celebrations

Wikinews has news related to: New Zealand marks Waitangi Day, 2006 New Zealand Prime Minister won't visit Waitangi marae

Because of the level of protest and violence that had previously occurred at Waitangi, the new Prime Minister did not attend in 2000.

At Waitangi

Celebrations at Waitangi often commence the previous day, February 5, at the Ngapuhi's Te Tii marae, where political dignatories are "welcomed" onto the marae and hear speeches from the local iwi.

On Waitangi Day itself, at dawn, the Royal New Zealand Navy raises the New Zealand Flag, Union Jack and White Ensign on the Flagstaff in the treaty grounds.

The ceremonies during the day generally include a church service and cultural displays such as dance and song.

The day closes with the flags being lowered by the navy in a traditional ceremony.

Elsewhere in New Zealand

In recent years, communities throughout New Zealand have been celebrating Waitangi Day in a variety of ways.

Some marae use the day as an open day and an educational experience for their local communities, giving them the opportunity to experience Māori culture and protocol. Other marae use the day as an opportunity to explain where they see Māori are and the way forward for Māori in New Zealand.

Another popular way of celebrating the day is at concerts held around the country.

Elsewhere in the World

In London, United Kingdom - which has one of the largest New Zealand expatriate populations - a tradition has arisen in recent years to celebrate Waitangi Day. Participants wear costumes, and sing songs, such as God Defend New Zealand, all of which is in stark contrast to the much more subdued observance of the day in New Zealand itself.