BY TREVOR AMMUNDSEN
The 2025 Waitangi Day holiday has come and gone, being a celebration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. For some, celebrations of other sorts; for others, just a day off. The focus of the day is usually the Treaty celebrations at Waitangi and at other locations within New Zealand, and this year was no different.
As is usual at these events, politicians turn up, some politicians are abused, a physical act of protest occurs such as mud or dildo throwing. This year it was microphone moving, which seemed quite tame really.
In fact, the best entertainment outside of the main event of Waitangi Day itself was Guy William’s (a self-proclaimed comedian) trying to take over a press conference with David Seymour. After a bit of inane back and forth, Seymour mentioned that William’s problem was that he was not a real journalist and eventually stated, “When I grew up as a kid in this country, comedians were funny. They were clever, they were witty. What’s gone wrong?” What a great put down.
The dawn service is always quite powerful, although this year it did get a bit political. The day itself should be above this.
One other thing that has changed over the years is the surge in Māori activities with great displays of Waka and other aspects of Māori culture.
Correspondingly, there has been a decline in representation from other elements such as the country’s Navy and other armed forces. The day is becoming increasingly a celebration of Māori culture and maybe that is what it should be. After all, we have Highland Games for the Scottish, Diwali for the Indians, Chinese New Year for China, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. So, a day to celebrate all things Māori is natural.
However, it does bode the question of how do we celebrate unity as a nation.
Waitangi was first observed as a national holiday in 1974, being named New Zealand Day by the Norman Kirk Labour Government. The naming of the day in this fashion was first put forward by Matiu Rata in 1971, but the National Government of the day was against this.
Accordingly, the next National Government renamed the day to Waitangi Day in 1976.
When introducing New Zealand Day, it was felt by the Labour Government that the country was big enough and old enough to celebrate its national birth and identity as a country.
As well as the Māori cultural displays, initial celebrations included a Navy Frigate at anchor in the Bay off the Treaty Grounds, and armed forces drills.
The New Zealand Day concept was valid then and is valid now but is not really what is happening now.
Māori as first immigrants have an honoured position and deserve a day dedicated to themselves.
But all who live in this land should have a day where not only who we are and where we have come from are celebrated but also what we have grown to be as a country.
This celebration would be additional to the Waitangi Day celebration, not a replacement.
How we do this and what discussions would be needed before anything could happen are yet before us.
Personally, I feel we should take the holidays that celebrate the anniversaries of various provinces and roll them all together into a New Zealand Day celebration. The provincial celebrations are virtually meaningless and by using these days for one special day, we spare the poor employers from having to fund another day off for workers.
Just what day would be used I do not know but suggest the last weekend in January as it fits current patterns for at least half of the country, and the weather should be good.
There are many cultures that have been merged to create our nation with virtually everybody having forebears from more than one. Cultures from the Pacific, from Asia, from Europe, Africa and the Americas. We are a great big melting pot as the song goes.
A New Zealand Day that allows us to acknowledge this history and celebrate what we have grown into would be a great thing.
