Happy Waitangi Day (New Zealand)

[racer2c]

Waitangi Day is a public holiday in New Zealand held each year on February 6 to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document on that date in 1840. The first Waitangi Day was not celebrated until 1934 and the day was not made a public holiday until 1974. Although this is New Zealand's national day, the commemoration has often been the focus of protest by Maori activists, and is often marred by controversy. For a time it was renamed "New Zealand Day" and the official celebrations were shifted from Waitangi to Wellington. However today the anniversary is officially commemorated at the treaty house at Waitangi where the treaty was first signed.

For our NZ brothas! Can I drink to this one?

[Warlock!]

For our NZ brothas! Can I drink to this one?
Silly r2c... OF COURSE WE CAN CELEBRATE WITH OUR NZ BRETHREN!!!

Winter Warlock!

[chop456]

Didn't Ted Nugent write a song about this holiday? :D

[devilmaster]

For our NZ brothas! Can I drink to this one?

Well, you'd better hurry up. Cause by the time you posted, Feb 6th was close to being or is over in NZ. ;)

(don't ya just hate literal people? me too :D )

Steve

[Warlock!]

Didn't Ted Nugent write a song about this holiday? :D
Oh yeah... I know that one too, chopper, so practice it a coupla times...

:D

Winter Warlock!

[Kiwifan]

Why thankee my North American cousins, indeed it was Waitangi Day. Now, like everything there are three sides to the story. ;)

The Maori are upset because "we got here firstest and sold our land to your great great Grandparents for blankets and trinkets."

The minority are upset because although the Maori "got there firstest we (Europeans) got here mostest and we shouldn't be responsible for what our ancestors did."

The majority just wish that we were "all one people who could just get along with each other and call ourselves New Zealanders."

I believe the Government is trying to please eevryone and in the process is ending up upsetting everyone, ya just can't win.

This is how they treated the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Shoved (http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2806026a10,00.html)

Kinda sad really but just a sign of the times I guess.....:(

Hey, but thanks for thinking of us!! :) :) Now, where's that Aaron??

Rusty.

[RTKar]

Why thankee my North American cousins, indeed it was Waitangi Day. Now, like everything there are three sides to the story. ;)

The Maori are upset because "we got here firstest and sold our land to your great great Grandparents for blankets and trinkets."

The minority are upset because although the Maori "got there firstest we (Europeans) got here mostest and we shouldn't be responsible for what our ancestors did."




Sounds kinda familiar...land for blankets & trinkets.... and now we get Indian Casinos!

[Robstar]

Sounds a little familiar from wher I'm sitting also... :eek:

Hats off to Kiwi's & the way in which the indigenous population are treated/referred to etc :thumbup:

Pity it's not like that across the Tasman... :shakehead

Happy NZ Day !!!
:)

[Kiwifan]

So you've Rabbit Proof Fence then Robsar? :) :) It's true mate, the Maoris are/have been treated pretty well compared to some other races but I'm one of those people who say "Ya can't change the past so let's make the future better, together."

Take care all,

Rusty.

PS, got a fantastic letter back from IMG re the Sugar Shack at the ANA corner. They won't be there again so that means, I WILL BE! :) :)

[Robstar]

Onwards & Upwards !

:cool:

[nz_climber]

Thanks all for wishing us a happy Maori day :thumbup: I went away on holiday over the 3day weekend (hence my late reply)

I'll had a drink for a few of us too ;)

[Lizzerd]

Thanks for having a drink for me, nz. At least I hope one was for me. I had a few too... I hereby dedicate a couple of them, post mortem, to my Kiwi buddies.

[nz_climber]

Thanks Lizzard, and yes one of them was for you :thumbup:

ps/ Rusty, I hope i can be with you at ANA corner this year :thumbup: :cool: