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Governor General Jerry Mateparae - Source: ONE News -
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For the second time in the Treaty of Waitangi's 172-year history, New Zealand has a Maori Governor General.
Sir Jerry Mateparae, five months into his five-year-term, strode onto Te Tii Marae for the first time in his role as the Queen's representative ahead of the Waitangi Day celebrations.
"The things I'm looking to achieve are about New Zealanders recognising who we are and what we are, and tomorrow (Waitangi Day) is the start of that, tomorrow is about celebrating ourselves as New Zealanders on our National Day," he told TVNZ7 News at 8.
"I think it is important to have a place where, as part of celebrating being a New Zealander, you also have got what happened at Waitangi because I think that's also important for us to remember and celebrate."
Mateparae and his wife Janine Lady Mateparae were welcomed onto the Northland marae yesterday with a powhiri at the Lower Waitangi Marae.
"The powhiri was fine. Nga Puhi gave us a tremendous welcome onto Te Tii and there were some elements of the theatre, which has always been a part of Waitangi".
Mateparae is a former SAS soldier, rising to Chief of Defence and was knighted. Now he is the second Maori man to represent the Queen.
Yesterday, the Governor General was questioned over where he stood with Maori.
Kaumatua Kingi Taurua said His Excellency was asked what role he will play for Maori, and whether his responsibility will be to Maori or to the "settler government".
Taurua said under the Treaty the Governor General's first priority should be for Maori.
Today, Mateparae is quite clear where he stands on race relations between Maori and Pakeha.
"I think there's been debate... so there should be in a vibrant democracy," he told ONE News reporter Jack Tame.
"I stand on the basis that 72 years ago, 41 Rangatira put their name on a document. One of them was on instruction from the Queen. The other 40 were on instruction from their people, but also made a choice."
"Where else is there a document, a founding document of a nation that talks about a partnership between two people?"
"Those two cultures 172 years ago are almost one now. When you go away anywhere, people do a haka. It's not just Maori people, it's New Zealanders and that's what it is to be a New Zealander."
Mateparae intends to spend the day in Wellington tomorrow, hosting a welcoming ceremony for new New Zealand citizens.
The Governor General said helping this new group is a big part of his role.
"There are people who will arrive here, as we've all arrived here, with a motive of making this place their home, our home, and so (it's also about us) not being afraid of new New Zealanders."
"(Waitangi Day) is celebrating being a New Zealanders, and if I can do anything that shows that we are celebrating, as we're doing tomorrow with the new New Zealanders, and that may well be a feature of government house, but it's just celebrating ourselves.
And having a good time, listening to music, eating some food, spending some time with family and friends - that's what it is to us."
What are you doing to celebrate Waitangi Day? Share your plans with us on the message board below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentbenji2 said on 2012-02-06 @ 04:32 NZDT: Report abusive post
I'm not surpised about the protests, given that the government wants to sell everything off to foriegn investors untill there is nothing left to sell in NZ, like the Dairy Farms, and James Camerons huge purchase, where he'll probably build an ugly glass mansion on the block of land.
benjaminsamuel said on 2012-02-05 @ 23:43 NZDT: Report abusive post
I shall be getting up in time to see the beginning of the celebrations and then getting on with my day doing things that I would normally not be able to do due to work commitments. Lets be one people one nations.
kiwigreg said on 2012-02-05 @ 22:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
I'll go with Lady L. Forget this Waitangi Day rubbish and call it New Zealand Day. Then what will the vociferous minority do with their time? I think the New Zealand Prime Ministers have been remarkable patient with these idiots. They yell and scream but take full advantage of what NZ has to offer.
oldstudent said on 2012-02-05 @ 17:25 NZDT: Report abusive post
Or was it two minutes? Who knows. It seems that little progress has been made this afternoon but I did listen to three informative talks on RNZ National about consititutional matters, held at Te Papa. Now a written constitution would be a good thing I reckon. Get some agreed points down in writing with proper community consultation.
oldstudent said on 2012-02-05 @ 12:16 NZDT: Report abusive post
Well my previous comment hasn't appeared so I will make another to suggest perhaps that some in NZ are concerned about what is going on - the psychologists call it "avoidance" and the climate change advocates call it "denial" - I see from the TVNZ Twitter team that the PM stayed one hour on the marae because he wasn't being listened to. Well NZ has done all the listening it needs on sale of energy assets and the PM does not want to respond it seems. Will he do another walk out tomorrow?