KEY POINTS:
Ah. Waitangi Day. It's nice to know that in an uncertain world there are still some things that are immutable. Like the Harawiras being at the centre of a controversy - although, to be fair, this time it's not one of their own making.
Matarahurahu leader David Rankin
is demanding Hone Harawira and his mum, Titewhai, stay away from Waitangi celebrations this year, saying they've disgraced the marae, New Zealand and Waitangi Day by continually protesting for political gain.
You'd have to say that in Hone's case, it has worked. He's gone from activist to Te Tai Tokerau MP and as the people's representative, it would be absurd to insist that this poacher turned gamekeeper stay away.
We've had John Key calling for abolition of the Maori seats, which should mark the end of the nice, warm, friendly dialogue between the new leader of the National Party and the Maori Party.
There's been the controversy over the flying of the flag, too - Ata Tino Toa, a Maori sovereignty group, requested permission to fly the tino rangatiratanga flag from the Harbour Bridge on Waitangi Day but was knocked back as Transit's rules say that only flags of recognised countries may be flown from the bridge. That was exactly the answer Maori separatist activists and lobbyists were after, prompting outrage and threats to get the flag on the bridge one way or another and spluttering on talkback from New Zealanders sick and tired of lobbyists getting in the way of a unified day of celebration.
I don't care one way or the other about the flag. It's not going to curdle the milk on my Kornies if I see the tino rangatiratanga flag flying next to the New Zealand flag. I don't feel particularly strongly about either of them. And I'd rather see a flag with local meaning flying than the Albanian flag, for instance. But if rules are rules, then Transit has to exercise them without favouritism.
I understand the frustration from people who want Waitangi Day to be a day of peace and thanksgiving for being citizens of this beautiful country. It would be marvellous if Waitangi Day could be a day of remembering the unique and special partnership that forged the creation of this country and a day of celebrating how far we've come as well as making plans for the future. And in many cases, that's exactly what happens on Waitangi Day.
It's just that good news doesn't make the news and all we've seen in the past are the images of the five or six protesters rather than the many thousands of people, up and down the country, celebrating Waitangi Day in a peaceful, unified and joyous way.
Just as a small sample of what's on offer this Waitangi Day, there'll be a drug- and alcohol-free concert on the beach at Mount Maunganui, Groove in the Park happens again at Western Springs Stadium, there's a free, open-air concert in Palmerston North, a Festival of the Elements celebrating cultural diversity in Porirua, Manukau City expects 30,000 people at its festival and in Greymouth, the Grey Community District Council is sponsoring a community picnic celebrating, according to the blurb, "Waitangi Day, being a community and life in general".
Exactly. There'll be thousands and thousands of us having a gorgeous day with people we love and what's going to make the news? A couple of tired old activists and some manky politicians.
Still, New Zealanders appear to be doing a good job of reclaiming Waitangi Day for the people.
And in a shameless plug, if you want an alternative to the usual coverage of Waitangi Day, Maori TV has a 7 1/2-hour live coverage of the day which will incorporate all the many and varied facets of our national day.
Have a good one!
