He assumed the invitation came because he and Sir Jerry had worked together on the Haane Manahi project that sought to have the former Maori Battalion veteran posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
Today the Governor-General was to host a garden reception at Government House, Wellington, that would be attended by a wide range of community and government guests. It is the first Waitangi Day reception to be held at Government House in Wellington since 2006 and Sir Mateparae was to give his first Waitangi Day address there. Mr Maxwell said he was looking forward to congratulating Sir Mateparae on becoming Governor-General. "... He's only our second Maori to be honoured [in this way] and he is such an amazing New Zealander." Mr Maxwell said he was honoured to be part of the celebrations in Wellington.
Te Arawa and Maori commentator Potaua Biasiny-Tule said everyone should remember Waitangi Day. "In whatever way you think best because we have done a lot to get here and this is but one small step in our longer, collective journey."
He said Te Arawa people had given much to Aotearoa and Rotorua. "We have shared much, have fought and died in the spirit of the treaty and in respectful reverence to the Crown."
He said Te Arawa never gave away their rights to look after their own hapu on their own lands and questioned the disadvantaged state many whanau found themselves in.
"How will my Maori children and grandchildren be protected and respected in this city, in this country, 100 years from now?"
Rotorua MP Todd McClay was to celebrate Waitangi Day in Rotorua. "I will be going to a number of community events including Whaka Village with my family". He said in previous years he and his family had gone to the Whakanuia functions. Waitangi Day was an opportunity for New Zealanders to celebrate and spend time with the family "and in Rotorua it (Waitangi Day) is growing in importance".
Waitangi Day
October 28 1835: Declaration of Independence of New Zealand signed by 35 northern Maori chiefs signed at Waitangi on and established those chiefs as representatives of a proto-state under the title of the "United Tribes of New Zealand".
February 6 1840: The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed by representatives of the British Crown and Maori chiefs from the North Island at Waitangi, Bay of Islands. Te Arawa did not attend that nor the 1835 signing of the Declaration of Independence. Te Arawa chiefs discussed the treaty and whether to sign it but did not sign the treaty.
May 21 1840: Lieutenant-Governor Hobson proclaims sovereignty over the whole country.
October 10 1975: The Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 establishes the Waitangi Tribunal. The act was amended in 1985 and enabled the tribunal to investigate claims dating back to 1840, when the treaty was signed.
