How sad that the Prime Minister should forbid the Navy to attend Waitangi on February 6. Helen Clark has her own reasons for not attending. We respect them and have supported them. She was reduced to tears at the nearby marae in 1998 and, though she attended the 1999 celebrations, she has not returned as Prime Minister.
In both 1998 and 1999 Jenny Shipley came to Waitangi as Prime Minister and encountered no difficulties. But Helen Clark refused to attend this year and will not be there this coming February 6 because she feels the dignity of her office will not be observed. That is her reason and it must be respected. She also wants the "official" celebration to be elsewhere.
But that is no reason to forbid the Navy, and indeed the Governor-General, from attending Waitangi as well, if they wish.
And they very clearly would want to be there. On February 6 last, Sir Michael Hardie Boys told the dawn service at Waitangi: "Last year was a step forward and not to return this year would have been two steps backwards."
The Navy's frigate anchored in the bay was flying its pennants and the Navy showband entertained the children in the big tent in the marae on the eve of Waitangi Day.
It is important that people like Sir Michael and the Navy commanders can straddle the country's tensions. It is easier for them than for those making contentious political decisions, which is all the more reason political leaders should let them go. Helen Clark did the right thing earlier this year. She has made the wrong decision now.
The presence of the Governor-General and the Navy at Waitangi did not deflect attention from her observance at a South Island marae. This time she wants them at an "official" occasion somewhere other than Waitangi. That is likely to be a few speeches and cocktails, taking perhaps a couple of hours in the afternoon. Sir Michael could do all he needs to do at Waitangi and make it to the official function too. The Navy, of course, could easily be represented at both.
It is not logistics that causes the Prime Minister to forbid them. Something else seems to be at work and it is sad. It is keeping people from Waitangi who deeply value that place and its meaning to this country.
The office of Governor-General, of course, is the direct successor of the imperial representative at the signing. A Royal Navy officer was that representative and others assisted at the signing, just as the Royal New Zealand Navy has done at many an anniversary.
Indeed, both institutions could claim a longer and closer association with the Treaty of Waitangi than the office of the Premier, which dates from the gift of self-government 16 years later. But the power of the Prime Minister is such that when she gives "advice" to the Governor-General, he is constitutionally bound to obey.
She has advised him not to attend next year and says that since the Government will not be there in any form it would be "a little odd if the Navy were there." Would it? The Navy does many things unaccompanied by the Government in any form.
At Waitangi it performs the pre-dawn flag-raising, which was somewhat delayed last year because a group had raised a Maori nationalist flag and jammed the halyard. The Navy dealt with that disruption quietly and professionally and eventually raised the national ensign.
This time, the Tino Rangitiratanga flag will probably fly unchallenged.
<i>Editorial:</i> Navy should be at Waitangi event
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