Organizers of New Zealand's National Day, which marks the signing of the country's founding treaty between the Maori people and the British Crown, say 2025 will be a record-breaking year, following a year of heightened tensions over the direction of the government's Maori policy. We anticipate that a large number of attendees will gather.
In February, tens of thousands of people will gather at Waitangi in New Zealand's Northland region to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, signed by Maori chiefs and the British Royal Family in 1840, which helped protect Maori rights. It is expected. .
The 2025 event is expected to surpass last year's visitor numbers, when 80,000 people traveled to Waitangi from across the country.
Waitangi Speaker Pita Tipene will attend, although some will attend in a show of force against a coalition government that many fear will roll back Māori rights and undermine treaty commitments. said he was not driven entirely by anger. The National Trust manages the grounds and events.
“It’s becoming more and more like a festival atmosphere…and people know they can bring their kids and grandkids there and have a good time.”
Still, Tipene hopes people will think about what this day means. The Waitangi event is as much a festival as it is a forum for political debate about sovereignty, equality and history. It is often the scene of demonstrations by Māori people who protest the lack of progress in tackling inequality and continued violations of treaties.
“We want people to have fun, but let's remember what it is and celebrate the birth of our nation in any way we like.”
The signing of the treaty has been commemorated as a public holiday on 6 February since 1974, with events held across the country and a formal multi-day celebration at the Waitangi grounds where the treaty was signed.
During the 2024 event, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his coalition partners faced protests and boos, which defined the relationship between Māori and the government for the rest of the year and led to the largest Māori rights protests in New Zealand history. It has developed to. .
In December, Mr Luxon announced that he would not be participating in the 2025 event in Waitangi, choosing instead to participate in smaller events in different parts of the country. This decision led to accusation of cowardice Even from the opposition parties.
“Having been in Waitangi for the past two years, including my first year as Prime Minister, I have decided to head to another part of the country next year,” he said in a statement at the time.
“Waitangi Day is of national importance and I hope to join New Zealanders in other parts of the world who celebrate this day.”
Other prime ministers in the past, including Helen Clarke, John Key and Bill English, have also skipped formal celebrations. Luxon said high-level government representatives will attend events across the country, including at the venue.
But Luxon's decision was unfortunate and as a government leader he should be there, Tipene said.
“Especially given the current political situation where the Treaty Principles Bill has been passed and there is a lot of anxiety spreading throughout society.”
The Coalition government's wide-ranging policy direction for Māori, including a complete rollback of policies aimed at improving Māori health and well-being, has sparked intense criticism. Few policies have angered Māori more than the Treaty Principles Bill, which proposes fundamental changes to the way treaties are interpreted. The bill does not have wide support and is unlikely to pass. But its introduction has angered many who believe it is divisive and undermines the treaty.
Ms Tipene said Mr Luxon's absence was a missed opportunity to continue dialogue between Māori leaders and the government.
“We would rather focus on who we are as a nation and develop a clearer vision of where we are going as a country, especially as we approach the 200th anniversary of the signing of the National Treaty. Considering that there are [the treaty]”
