Just as I got to the front of the queue, Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick ran out of scrambled eggs. As she picked up the empty stainless steel dish and looked around for some help she was told not to worry and that more kai would be along soon. The government ministers had expected about 400 people at their free waterfront breakfast barbecue at Waitangi. Next year, prime minister Ardern told the crowd they’d increase the catering.
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No-one was too bothered about the crush, or the lack of eggs. The day before Ardern used her speech at the upper marae at Waitangi Treaty Grounds to note she didn’t think it was realistic to seek “perfection” in Waitangi Day saying as a nation “we embrace our freedom and contest of ideas” and “so if there is protest, that won’t bother me.”As it turned out, there was very little protest but, as usual, no shortage of the exchange of ideas. A heavy dew at the dawn ceremony, shocking-pink sunrise, waka paddling the bay, market stalls, ice-cream trucks and deep conversations about our identity as a nation—a Waitangi Day at Waitangi somehow floats you up and grounds you at once. VICE went along to observe the day and talk to New Zealanders about the Treaty of Waitangi and the nation.
Mauri
Bridget
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A few years ago I heard Moana Jackson speak about constitutional research. Artspace [where I work] is reading the document that came of that here. In terms of widening your political perspective and understanding I think being at Waitangi Day carries forward into the year. Hopefully you’re keen to come next year and continue that growth. I really wish that more people would come. More of New Zealand should make a pilgrimage up."
Pania
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What Titiriti or Waitangi means to me is that the Queen signed up to a contract with Māori, promising that Māori would have rangatiratanga over their taonga. Ihumātao is a taonga. She promised that we would have rangatiratanga over that but that is not true. We currently don’t, they’re making decisions for us. We are calling on the government to honour the promises that they made and the contract they entered into with our tupuna."