Issue 80 - editorial

The same but different

Tena ano tatou

Anyone who was expecting– maybe even wishing for – trouble at Waitangi this year, would have been sorely disappointed. Yes, Waitangi has changed. No longer are there the large formal ceremonies on the Treaty grounds with the Governor- General, politicians and members of the diplomatic corps which people with a grievance were tempted to target. But thousands of people, in fact a record number, did turn up at Te Tii marae – the bottom marae, and there were just as many across the bridge where there were more stalls, waka coming and going and large Navy presence complete with a 21-gun salute.

Te Tii has always been the place where the vigorous debates take place and that was the case again this year. A party from Tuhoe including Tame Iti and his family came to Waitangi and along with his lawyer Annette Sykes, held a news conference telling a marquee full of media and the
public their side of the so called ‘terror raids’ that took place last year and as a result of which Tame and others still face charges under the Arms Act.

But Tame and Annette were almost the only faces from the turbulent 1970s and 1980s who are still doing the hard yards. Where are the other activists from back then? Well they’re now thirty years older of course and some are now iwi leaders, others run things like hauora, and others still are Members of Parliament. The Waitangi Tribunal too has played a part in that many of the issues that were taken to Waitangi have been diverted through the Tribunal, further diffusing the need to protest.

Prime Minister Helen Clark chose not to go to Te Tii this year leaving the ground instead to the Maori Party and to John Key from National, who was not only led by the hand onto the marae by Titewhai Harawira, but the following day traded a hongi with Tame Iti and could be seen talking to many Maori leaders in the course of his visit.

Many New Zealanders don’t see the Waitangi Treaty as having any significance for them, nevertheless tens of thousands turned out at Waitangi-related events right around the country.

In this issue we re-visit Waitangi and its significance today. We asked four interested New Zealanders to give us their views on what it means to them in 2008. Maori Party MP Pita Sharples gives his views on what he considers are shortcomings in the present government’s approach to Treaty matters in an extract from a recent speech on the Treaty’s international significance.

We also farewell an extraordinary son of the Taitokerau people – Hone Tuwhare – who overcame a difficult upbringing in the depression of the 1930’s to become one of this country’s best-loved poets. The long hot summer has also produced a number of good sports stories and more tasty recipes to try in our Mana Kai section. There’s sure to be something to catch your eye in Mana 80.

Nga mihi nui mo te tau hou.