Waitangi Day

Well Paul and I are still anchored up in the Bay of Islands. Paul has got 4 more days of work, and then we will be free again. We spent the past weekend anchored over near Paihia and went into the Waitangi Day celebrations at the Treaty Grounds.
For those of my followers who are not from New Zealand, Waitangi Day is the commemoration of the signing of the Treaty between the Europeans and the Maori back on 6th February 1840. It is the only celebration that New Zealand has as a whole for our National Day. In the past I have never gone to the celebrations because of the controversy and protesting that occurs during the event, and the media bias toward Maori made it feel more of a Maori event.

But I am so glad I went this time, and I will endeavour to go in the future, as it is NEW ZEALANDS national day, and this encompasses all NEW ZEALANDERS. I was proud of both sides of MY culture, both the European ( "Beat the Retreat" by the Navy, Ray Woolf and Dame Malvina Major) and the Maori side of MY culture ( Waka Karakia, Kapa Haka, and the Waitiangi Festival at the Marae). In someways it is a shame that I have to split it up into European and Maori, but unfortunately in New Zealand there is no "New Zealander", you are either a Pakeha (white) New Zealander or a Maori New Zealander. There may be many Maori who disapprove of my view, but this is my blog.
Anyway we moved back over to Uruti Bay, and will remain anchored here until Paul finishes work on Thursday. Then we will see where the wind takes us.