Yes, the flag is a symbol, but the starry eyed Wellington mayor may not be aware that the group that promoted the separatist flag, Te Ata Tino Toa, says the flag symbolises the struggle for Maori self-determination: Spokesperson Tia Taurere said:
The Tino Rangatiratanga flag symbolises the long tradition of struggle and resistance by Maori against colonisation and the Crown sponsored theft of Maori land and resources. It is a symbol used by Maori who continue to resist the pressures of colonisation and cultural and economic genocide. Such a concept embraces the spiritual link Maori have with 'Papatuanuku' (Earthmother) and is a part of the international drive by indigenous peoples for self determination.Te Ata Tino Toa keeps track of flagpoles that fly their flag. A big step forward was achieved two years ago when Prime Minister John Key and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced that the Maori sovereignty flag was to fly from the Auckland Harbour Bridge and other official buildings (such as Premier House) on Waitangi Day 2010. Every additional flagpole flying the separatist flag furthers the resistance to “cultural and economic genocide”.
Mana Party leader Hone Harawira thanked the white Ms Wade-Brown for flying the flag this year, although you would remember Harawira’s attitudes to whites. He expressed his feelings in an email a couple of years ago, when he wrote. . . ”. . do you believe that white man bull**** too do you? White motherf***ers have been raping our lands and ripping us off for centuries and all of a sudden you want me to play along with their puritanical bullshit....And, quite frankly, I don't give a shit . . .”
7 comments:
Time to hang Master Harawira from the flagpole, methinks
The separatist flags can be seen flying everywhere, often in the most unlikely places.
I venture to suggest that the majority of those displaying the flag, have absolutely no idea what the flag stands for or even what separatism would mean for those so keen to attain it. In retrospect, I think that those leading the pack are probably split between those wanting true separatism and those who would prefer the status quo as exists today. ie continual settlements and ongoing benefits.
If sorting all this out means we must face a future with methods that reshaped the old Jugoslavia, then so be it.
Thanks for the wake-up call Mike. It's easy to let these things slide ("It's just a flag...." etc) and to be honest I've been guilty of it in the past.
I think it's sadly ironic that on a day where we are meant to be celebrating our togetherness, we display symbols of separatists. Makes me think of a quote I heard - "It's better to be strong in one place, than weak in many."
As an immigrant from the old apartheid South Africa I see the not-so-slow slide to apartheid in this country. In SA there was a privileged minority who paid all the bills and an under-privileged majority made all the demands. Here in NZ its a privileged minority who make all the demands and an underprivileged majority who pay the bills. The divisiveness of separatism remains the same.
Sad is it not Hongi Hika invited the British here to save his back side and stop the genocide of the Maori tribes fighting, killing, eating and enslaving the defeated.
The last draft of the Treaty of Waitangi (The Littlewood Document) sits in a dull corner (one page of it) in Archives in Mulgrave Street, Wellington. It is not lost and the current and previous Governments since about 1986 know of it and it sure does not resemble anything such as Treaty Partnership! Queen Victoria in 1840 was one of the most powerful people in the world and what she allows a number native tribes (at war constantly with each other) seperate sovereignty. I think not.
The Maoris are not the original inhabitants of NZ infact the Uru Kehu were they were fair skinned blonde sometimes ginger haired people some with blue eyes. They were called the Pre Polynesian People and guess what that information was on the NZ Government website up until 4-5 years ago. Ask the Waitaha people from the South Island. We are being fed a load of Bull_ _it
The mayor is another plastic Maori. Just like John KEY and some of his party. Thinking they are helping Maori at the exspense of their own.
I liken them to the plastic tiki the tourist bought years ago imitation.
All of us should vote on changing the Waitangi Day to NZ day as This BS is getting out of hand due to a few radicals who get news coverage in every thing they come up with. I hope that all of you have signed the CIP referendem If not you have only yourself to blame when IWI stop you accessing our foreshore God Save NZ. Ron Blair.
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