Kathryn Armstrong
BBC News
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The Waitangi Treaty was signed between many, but not all, the Maori tribes and the British crown in Waitangi on February 6, 1840
Thousands of people attended events in Waitangi in northern New Zealand, to celebrate the country’s national day.
The day of Waitangi marks the first signature of New Zealand of Waitangi or the Waitangi Treaty in Māori.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has shaken the tradition by choosing not to be in Waitangi for the celebrations, in place of an event on the southern island.
This year’s commemorations came at a time of increased tensions, because the government pursues the policies considered by some as anti -Māori – including a bill which would reinterpret the 184 -year -old treaty.
On Wednesday, the day before the holidays, hundreds of Maori demonstrators organized a silent demonstration by turning their back on the government’s ministers, reporting their dissatisfaction with the management of indigenous problems.
ACT party leader David Seymour – who is the architect of the controversial bill in question, known as the Treaty Principles Bill – also had his microphone removed twice during the event.
“We are tired of speaking to ears that will not listen, and in the spirits that will not change,” said the greatest protest of Roof Tiriti, who led the greatest protest against the rights of the maori in 2024 – said.
Luxon announced in December that he would not be in Waitangi – by choosing rather to celebrate the day on the southern island with his largest tribe – or Iwi in Maori – Ngāi Tahu.
Iwi are groups of people joined by their shared ancestry and their link with nature. Ngāi Tahu has around 74,000 members, according to the latest census from New Zealand.
“Today, it’s a day to think about where we come and look forward to where we are going together as a nation,” said Luxon in a video message from Akaroa.
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Waitangi day marks the first signature of New Zealand of Waitangi or the Waitangi Treaty in Maori
“The treaty is at the heart of our history and it is also essential for our future.
Luxon is not the first Prime Minister to miss the commemorations in Waitangi, but his decision not to attend during a period of increased tensions between the Maori and his government attracted mixed reactions.
Ngāi Tahu said that he had welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to celebrate with them and that it was time to “think about our common history … and strengthen relations between Tangata Whelua (Māori) and the Crown, at the Profit of all our communities in New Zealand “.
His political opponents accused him of cowardice when his government pursues policies that many Maori consider offensive.
“When the Prime Minister does not even want to introduce himself to Waitangi, he shows us that he is not the person for work – he does not want to govern for the people of this nation,” said the co -leader of Green Party Marama Davidson.
What is the treaty of Waitangi?
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (right) says he wants to celebrate Waitangi’s day in different parts of New Zealand
The Waitangi Treaty was signed between many Maori tribes, but not all, and the British crown in Waitangi on February 6, 1840 – offering both parties certain rights and privileges.
For the Maori, this includes the conservation of the chef of the Chevette on their land and their resources, but the differences between the maori and English versions of the treaty left it open to interpretation.
Nevertheless, the promise to protect the rights of indigenous land has been broken several times and the economic and cultural impacts of this, associated with racial discrimination, have led to an inequality which is still addressed today.
It is in this context that the anniversary of the signing of the treaty came an important day for discussions on the state of relations between the Maori and the State.
A tense backdrop
Watch: The BBC explains the demonstrations of the Maori bill in New Zealand
This year’s birthday comes in the midst of the meticulous examination of the bill on the principles of the treaty.
The minister who defended the proposal – the head of the Act party, David Seymour – attended, although he was invited not to do so by his hapū (subto).
Supporters of the bill say that this will promote equality among New Zealanders, but those against him tell him that it is the division and will disadvantage the Māori more.
The bill is so high that a national forum representing several IWIs (Maori tribes) recently wrote a letter to King Charles – Head of State of New Zealand – asking for his help.
“We ask for your intervention to ensure that the government does not decrease the honor of the crown,” said the open letter.
“Please remind them of respecting their responsibility for acting as an honorable partner on your behalf.”
Although it is unlikely that the bill will adopt – with Luxon and its majority national party promising not to support it at its second reading later this year – some of those who participated in public audiences on this subject say that Its very existence is an insult.
They understand the former Minister of Justice Kiritapu Allan, who described the legislation proposed as an “abomination”.
“This is a bill which consists in cleaning (Maori) in history,” she said.
Others supported it. The economist Anish Chaudhuri said that the conversation on the consolidation of the principles of the Treaty in Law was necessary “if New Zealand should remain a multi -thnical and multicultural nation”.
He also spoke out against a situation in which different cultures in New Zealand are treated differently, saying that his birth nation of India was a “precursation tale”.
The other measures taken by the government which caused anger include the dissolution of the Maori health authority – which was created under the last Labor government to try to create greater equality of health – and the abolition of the maori names of the government services.
