Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Waitangi: Just enjoy the day

TracyMac

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 11:50:44 +1300

The experience of the the Scottish crofters was reputedly why Fraser had a lot of sympathy for Maori land claims – at least in comparison to most other Pakeha politicians around that time.

Sacha

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 22:23:04 +1300

Would be reduced mana amongst actively-involved people at the events this week rather than the broader voting population, as you say.

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 19:58:12 +1300

But some history is in order.

The history goes way back...back to when Clarke was Minister of Health and Titewhai was doing time...the late eighties is when it was

The treatment of patients at Te Whare Paia metal health unit was truly sickening and Titewhai was not only in charge...she participated.

The…

Tinakori

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 19:09:30 +1300

"A lot of people feel that the machinations of Tuku Morgan et al have damaged the mana of the Kingitanga in particular."

That may be and would add to the tottering pile of things he and others acting in the King's name have done to damage the Kingitanga, but I…

Sacha

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 19:04:44 +1300

onya

Russell Brown

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 17:06:01 +1300

I think Nick Russell is right, that there have been positive Waitangi Days in the past and they often coincide with the beginning of a government’s term. Well done to Labour for managing this one particularly well. Having lots of Ngapuhi in the government undoubtedly made a difference and was…

Moz

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:59:10 +1300

noting the contrast with how things are going in Australia

Not least the recent "consultation" where the government asked aborigines what they wanted, after much deliberation the Uluru Declaration was produced... then the government spat in their faces.

One of the things that gets me through invasion day is the…

Hilary Stace

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:25:20 +1300

One of the most significant things Jacinda said – in my opinion, and I can't remember how she phrased it – is that disagreement, protest and vigorous discussion is valuable and healthy, particularly on Waitangi Day. She and the government are not scared of it. She was also there for…

Tinakori

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:23:57 +1300

I think Nick Russell is right, that there have been positive Waitangi Days in the past and they often coincide with the beginning of a government's term. Well done to Labour for managing this one particularly well. Having lots of Ngapuhi in the government undoubtedly made a difference and was…

Hugh Wilson

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:22:44 +1300

'Just enjoy the day' seems like an apt assessment to me, noting the contrast with how things are going in Australia – where discontentment with Australia Day being celebrated on the anniversary of Captain Cook's arrival/invasion – is getting larger (and more divisive) with every passing year.

Nick Russell

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:00:13 +1300

Ah, you are right about Helen Clark in 1998. I should have checked. But still – just about every new PM right back to Lange (maybe not Jim Bolger) seems to be a generational change and a breath of fresh air, until they aren't any more and become just another…

Russell Brown

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:54:42 +1300

You mean, some time when Clark and Harawira were on speaking terms? I must have been on sick leave that day.

Not really what I mean, although you're not the first to take it that way.

But some history is in order. Clark's unpleasant encounter with Titewhai Harawira was in…

James Littlewood*

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:28:19 +1300

As did Helen Clark

You mean, some time when Clark and Harawira were on speaking terms? I must have been on sick leave that day.

Yes, it's largely symbolic, but it's also about diplomacy. It's not the warm reception that's really significant. It's the warm and in-depth approach she made.…

Shaun Lott

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:06:21 +1300

I was personally really impressed by Peeni Henare talking to Mihingarangi Forbes on Morning Report, mentioning that he has three daughters, and that he hoped they would see this as the 'new normal'. Let's hope he's right.

Nick Russell

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 14:49:31 +1300

I wonder if people are getting just a mite carried away about this. It's not unprecedented for new Governments and PMs to be feted at Waitangi. If memory serves, John Key also got a very warm reception when he was first elected. As did Helen Clark 9 years before that.…

James Littlewood*

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 14:38:13 +1300

Sure, she's set herself a high bar. Yet people are saying that like it's a bad thing.

The big promise she made, which can be easily kept, is that she'll be back again next year. So, the next 12 months will see some noses put out of joint, and some…

Alan Perrott

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 13:31:27 +1300

As an aside, I was at Neil Oliver's talk at the Town Hall a few weeks back, cracked ribs and all. It was a largely grey-haired assembly – me included unfortunately – and you could feel a certain bristling in the air when he raised the issue of Maori land…

Stephen R

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:31:04 +1300

Having a quiet drink with friends last night, we all remarked how the difference between this year and last year is a feeling of Hope. The Prime Minister's message at Waitangi felt like a description of a path to a better future. A path for everyone.

I'm pretty pleased with…

Russell Brown

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:25:25 +1300

A word, too, for Mihingarangi Forbes, who spent her last day at RNZ helming the broadcast from Waitangi. It was great, engaging radio and it made me feel close to the events.

Nice to hear Chris Wikaira back at work behind the mic too!

Sacha

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:16:27 +1300

It is a big change for me to feel proud of our government's representatives on the day. I appreciated that enormously.

Public Address

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:16:27 +1300

Discussion from blog post.