> I could not let Bill's comments (below) pass without comment. Your comment is at least as distorted as the original. I would say the original expresses the attitudes of many young Maori. > The Waitangi day celebrations that were disrupted, were the > celebrations by Maori. The Prime Minister and Govoner General were > invited guests. No - it is a government sponsored celebration which the local tribe is asked to host. It is organised by the Department of Internal Affairs. There has been a long history of protest by large numbers of Maori about these 'celebrations' being held when there are many outstanding grievances about how Maori rights under the treaty have been abrogated. >The protesters then, as with more recent protests, were > representaives of a particular tribe. No - protestors came from many tribes. Many pakehas (whites) were present too. > They do not like the way their own elders, > from different Maiori tribes, have negotiated, a proposal for 1 billion dollars > toward settling Maiori claims. No - this was a government proposal to try to limit the financial impact of *Maori* land claims. It wasrejected unanimously at 13 of 14 hui's (meetings) of Maori tribes around the country - including elders and young people. Only a small number of elders support the concept that cash in the hand is worth more than the promise of grievances being settled. They, the Maiori activists, have come under > criticism from Maiori groups for their behaviour. It is felt that it has set > back the Maiori cause by alienating many other non Maiori. This was the not unanimous view of the elders from the tribe hosting the celebration. It was widely publicisied by the media, while other more supportive comments received less publicity. > In reply to Treacy, yes the peasant are happy, Maiori and Pakeha together. No - there is a lot of frustration being expressed by Maori right through the country. There are currently 14 land occupations by Maori groups. There is also some ugly racism and threats of violence from whites, such as at Wanganui. Bruce Cronin
