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The mood at Waitangi Day commemorations this year is a far cry from the past, with families and tourists taking over from the protesters and police.
Since the creation of the Maori Party tensions have eased and people want to learn more about Waitangi and what it stands for.
The mood of commemorations leaned more towards protest in the 1970s and by the 1990s the day was marred with violent confrontations between protesters and police leading to governments of the day turning their backs on Waitangi.
Many locals have not celebrated Waitangi Day for years because of the violence and protests and they are welcoming the family day atmosphere as well as the opportunity to learn more about New Zealand's history.
They are being joined by people from all over the world curious
about New Zealand's national day and the Maori culture and
traditions.
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How are you going to spend your Waitangi Day? Let the team at TVNZ know by emailing us at interactivenews@tvnz.co.nz and we will share it with the rest of the country. Put the word Waitangi in the subject line.
