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by Scott Stevens - Queenstown Media Group

Down south, on the Mainland, Waitangi Day passed with no fanfare or flames. Ignored and irrelevant. Certainly not respected and universally acknowledged like ANZAC Day or in more recent times, Matariki. Even up north where the day is a licence to air grievances with anyone and everyone who has come to NZ since the first Waka washed up on these Islands way back when, the atmosphere was by the looks of it from afar, relatively civil.

Plenty of bickering and poor behaviour is par for the course however and there were the usual shouting matches. As one politician described it, just a couple of muppets shouting in the dark. Pretty much sums it up, and more than a little bit sad considering how for the most part our country is tolerant and welcoming every other day of the year.

We have it sweet here in New Zealand. That’s what I’d like to celebrate on 6 February. Our cultural and ethnic diversity is worth the celebration. Wouldn’t you agree we mix and mingle pretty well?

It’s absolutely critical we do not forget what shaped our country. However, eventually grievances are righted as best they can 186 years after the fact, and eventually we need to move forward and build a better future. I like the idea of focusing on the future. It’s the only way.

Because looking back at your own family tree can be a little unnerving. My forebearers seem to be, as far as our family tell it, boring and average with one or two “war heroes” to hang our ANZAC Day hat on. Some have more questionable heritage, like a friend who found out his great grandfather was a cotton mill owner importing slaves to Manchester; another mate’s granddad was in the IRA. Neat. A mate who hails from the Te Tii Marae at the heart of our Waitangi Day kerfuffle’s told me that when his forefathers first got their hands on British muskets in a land trade deal, they promptly marched over the hill and slaughtered every man, women and child in Kaikohe, because we “hate those ***ts”. Brutal, and if I looked any deeper, I’m sure I would have questions on exactly what my great uncle and grandfather got up to in the wars they fought. You know the saying, don’t point a finger, because there is always three pointing back at you. Well, let’s leave it there and say tomorrow is a new day.

New Zealand is a spectacular country with a rich history of human settlement and plenty of opportunity to look forward to. Yes we have our squabbles, but the long and short of it is, New Zealand, Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud in 2026, is one of few countries on planet Earth that offers a greater opportunity with every generation that passes. Without fear of a war party marching over the hill and putting an end to it. Just like that. The end. Full stop.