Waitangi Day

I have just spent a week in the Bay of Islands and while there attended part of the Treaty celebrations programme on the Treaty grounds. It certainly was not a New Zealand Day, it was a Them and Us day, a day of protests and divisions. Those who wanted to express a counter view to the general theme were just drowned out by protesters. Freedom of speech was very limited.

Some speakers spoke about issues of concern to the wide New Zealand community, like water and pollution, and were greeted by respect from all. Others paraded around the flagpole and through the crowds, chanting and waving flags clearly designed to be offensive, including the NZ flag upside down and below a Ma¯ori-designed flag.

What I found particularly interesting was placards denouncing 1080 as a killer of innocent animals, but none condemning domestic violence and highlighting the number of innocent women, children and men killed each month by it in New Zealand.

Clearly we desperately need a New Zealand Day that allows we Kiwis to celebrate our achievements and the values system that has allowed us to grow into the nation that we are today — a classless society where freedom of speech and association are closely guarded and diversity, tolerance and respect for all, if not perfect, remain our aspiration.

Brian Main, Hamilton.