Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jan 16, 2017 5:34:42 GMT 12
The New Zealand Herald 16/1/17 (Also in Bay of Plenty Times 16/1/17)
ENGLISH AND WAITANGI
Lizzie Marvelly seems to think that the country and our PM should endure the cringe that is Waitangi. Ritual humiliation of guests at Waitangi is hardly likely to engender sympathy or a desire to right perceived wrongs.
Waitangi has been a circus. Why the PM should go there to be insulted beggars belief.
For years PMs have endured having to walk arm in arm with a woman who was jailed for violently assaulting a mental health patient.
We have seen Governor-General Dame Cath Tizard spat on, Helen Clark brought to tears, mud and dildo throwing, verbal and physical assaults, and bully-boy tactics.
Now with the PM refusing to be demeaned and see the office of Prime Minister disrespected, the marae elders are using words like “cop-out” (Pita Paraone) and “Don’t be a child” (Kingi Taurua) which is hardly likely to encourage attendance.
Bill English’s decision is the right one and will be supported by the vast majority of New Zealanders. Cringe-worthy, it’s downright head-under-the-pillow embarrassing.
RICHARD PRINCE,
Welcome Bay.
.
Hawkes Bay Today 16/1/17 (Text Us section)
* In Fridays HBT Bruce Bisset’s column re casual racism and Waitangi — who wants to attend to sit down, shut up and listen? why would you want to even go after all the c**p that has gone on — good on Bill English for declining
.
Bay of Plenty Times 16/1/17
LET’S RETHINK WAITANGI DAY
I came to this country from England in 1973, and throughout the last 43 years I have never understood why the focus of our National Day is almost exclusively on Maori.
For a few years the name was changed to New Zealand Day, far more appropriate because non-Maori are part of the country’s history, too, and should be celebrating it in their cultural manner as well.
The offensive shenanigans that occur most years at Waitangi demean the Crown and its ministers and turn the celebrations into an embarrassing farce.
Visitors and new immigrants surely shake their heads in dismay at the carry-on and lack of dignity.
Perhaps a referendum could be held on returning the 6th February to New Zealand Day so that we can all feel that it’s our day, too, and not just a Maori one.
MAUREEN GUY
Otumoetai
.
Sunday Star-Times 15/1/17
NATIONAL DAY
Good on the prime minister for deciding not to go to Waitangi. Sadly it has not been for many years a celebration of a truly national day. It has simply become a forum for the local iwi to vocalise their local grievances. That is undoubtedly important for them but is of only passing interest to those in other parts of the country.
We really need something much more inclusive – perhaps the only way to make the day a national occasion may be to have it organised and run by some kind of Maori/Pakeha body with a truly national mandate.
Note for the new PM: Perhaps we could have a referendum about the issue).
GRAHAM WEIR,
Lower Hutt
.
Our PM is the highest elected official in our country and he is entitled to speak wherever he decides to speak.
Some people have attacked him for deciding not to attend the Waitangi Day celebrations. What seems to have escaped their understanding is that New Zealand is still a democracy and we continue to offer personal freedoms which many other countries have denied to their citizens. I understand that he would have been restricted in what he could say.
While I would most probably not vote for him in a general election, I respect his right to stay away from Waitangi.
JOHANN NORDBERG,
West Auckland
ENGLISH AND WAITANGI
Lizzie Marvelly seems to think that the country and our PM should endure the cringe that is Waitangi. Ritual humiliation of guests at Waitangi is hardly likely to engender sympathy or a desire to right perceived wrongs.
Waitangi has been a circus. Why the PM should go there to be insulted beggars belief.
For years PMs have endured having to walk arm in arm with a woman who was jailed for violently assaulting a mental health patient.
We have seen Governor-General Dame Cath Tizard spat on, Helen Clark brought to tears, mud and dildo throwing, verbal and physical assaults, and bully-boy tactics.
Now with the PM refusing to be demeaned and see the office of Prime Minister disrespected, the marae elders are using words like “cop-out” (Pita Paraone) and “Don’t be a child” (Kingi Taurua) which is hardly likely to encourage attendance.
Bill English’s decision is the right one and will be supported by the vast majority of New Zealanders. Cringe-worthy, it’s downright head-under-the-pillow embarrassing.
RICHARD PRINCE,
Welcome Bay.
.
Hawkes Bay Today 16/1/17 (Text Us section)
* In Fridays HBT Bruce Bisset’s column re casual racism and Waitangi — who wants to attend to sit down, shut up and listen? why would you want to even go after all the c**p that has gone on — good on Bill English for declining
.
Bay of Plenty Times 16/1/17
LET’S RETHINK WAITANGI DAY
I came to this country from England in 1973, and throughout the last 43 years I have never understood why the focus of our National Day is almost exclusively on Maori.
For a few years the name was changed to New Zealand Day, far more appropriate because non-Maori are part of the country’s history, too, and should be celebrating it in their cultural manner as well.
The offensive shenanigans that occur most years at Waitangi demean the Crown and its ministers and turn the celebrations into an embarrassing farce.
Visitors and new immigrants surely shake their heads in dismay at the carry-on and lack of dignity.
Perhaps a referendum could be held on returning the 6th February to New Zealand Day so that we can all feel that it’s our day, too, and not just a Maori one.
MAUREEN GUY
Otumoetai
.
Sunday Star-Times 15/1/17
NATIONAL DAY
Good on the prime minister for deciding not to go to Waitangi. Sadly it has not been for many years a celebration of a truly national day. It has simply become a forum for the local iwi to vocalise their local grievances. That is undoubtedly important for them but is of only passing interest to those in other parts of the country.
We really need something much more inclusive – perhaps the only way to make the day a national occasion may be to have it organised and run by some kind of Maori/Pakeha body with a truly national mandate.
Note for the new PM: Perhaps we could have a referendum about the issue).
GRAHAM WEIR,
Lower Hutt
.
Our PM is the highest elected official in our country and he is entitled to speak wherever he decides to speak.
Some people have attacked him for deciding not to attend the Waitangi Day celebrations. What seems to have escaped their understanding is that New Zealand is still a democracy and we continue to offer personal freedoms which many other countries have denied to their citizens. I understand that he would have been restricted in what he could say.
While I would most probably not vote for him in a general election, I respect his right to stay away from Waitangi.
JOHANN NORDBERG,
West Auckland