On 6 February each year New Zealand commemorates the signing of the Treaty
of Waitangi in 1840 between the English Crown and Maori chiefs. The event
is commemorated as a foundation day for the New Zealand nation.
In the past the Queen has visited such commemorations, and faced minor
protest. The day has traditionally been a focus of protest, but this
year's have been the most disruptive ever.
A protest group called Kawariki met for 2 days before the commemorations
and sought speaking rights at the commemoration ceremonies. These were
granted, with conditions, by tribal elders running the ceremonies at the
Waitangi marae or meeting place.
The historic Treaty house was subject to a failed arson attempt early on
the morning of the 6 February. On her arrival at the Waitangi marae,
during the powhiri or traditional welcoming ceremony, the Governor General
was spat upon. Other official dignitaries, including diplomatic
representatives, were verbally abused. The head of the Government's
Ministry of Maori Development became involved in a fight with a protestor,
and was escorted from the marae by police. Protest continued with the
official NZ flag being taken down, trampled on before the Governor General
and replaced with 3 flags of Maori sovereignty. Evening ceremonies were
cancelled because of security concerns, but also in part because the NZ
navy claimed they could not undertake closing ceremonies while the Union
Jack was not flying. About 600 people, many young, but including some
older protestors, eventually stood on the marae.
The protest was sparked in the main by Crown proposals released in
December 1994 for the settlement of historical claims under a fiscal
envelope policy. A non-negotiable item of the policy is that all
historical claims must be settled within a $1 billion amount. The Labour
opposition party in Government has said the protests are a warning about
the acceptance of that policy. While not part of these protests, many
Maori groups have already indicated dissatisfaction with the fiscal
envelope proposal.
The Governor General has called for calm about yesterday's events.
The Prime Minister has suggested that future commemorations may not be
held at Waitangi.
Some elders are shocked by these events. Those who own the marae at
Waitangi may not be willing to have it used in this fashion again. Marae
are traditionally a place of fierce debate, but also places where respect
is afforded to guests. An elder from the region, Dover Samuels, has called
these events a humiliation and a loss of "mana" or authority for those
running the marae. Some elders walked off the marae in disgust at the
protests.
Police numbers (only about 40 were present) was lower than in previous
years, the event being promoted mainly as a relaxed "family day". The most
likely outcome is that official Waitangi day commemorations will not be
held at Waitangi at least for the next few years.
It seems that, while there is some shock among Maori commentators about
the tactics used, there is sympathy for the cause of the protest, the
perceived Government intransigence over its fiscal envelope policy.
Main source: Radio New Zealand.
Tom Bennion (editor, Maori Law Review)
e-mail: bennion@actrix.gen.nz
Telephone/fax (04) 4753681
PO Box 11 310, Wellington, New Zealand