Waitangi Day 2006 will be remembered by many people for many different reasons – maybe it was the first visit to Waitangi grounds, maybe it was learning something new about the Treaty of Waitangi while looking inside the ‘Treaty 2 U” travelling exhibition, maybe it was good music enjoyed under a brilliant sunny day. For me, Waitangi Day 2006 will be remembered for 2 things – the first is our boy Atutahi loves merry-go-rounds; the second is that the entire country is finally recognising what we have in the Treaty of Waitangi.

I recall watching the news in the 1980s, with most of those interviewed thinking of Waitangi Day as purely a day off work. Most admittedly knew nothing about the Treaty, nor cared much for its historical circumstance. I attended primary school throughout the 80s and high school in the 90s and don't recall any direct teaching time focused on the Treaty; it wasn't until the 6th form that any teacher discussed its signing.

In a personal quest for understanding, I followed my whanaunga and learned about the Treaty from the inside out, pulling it apart for discussion at wananga, analysing the words and the possible contexts, seeing the Treaty of Waitangi as a whole, even looking at the document as if it were fraudulent. This was in 1994, when the Government offered Maori $1b to settle all ‘proven' historical grievances. Many communities saw this as a buy out for blood wrongs and took direct action against the policy begrudgingly called ‘the Fiscal Envelope'.

Pakaitore in Wanganui was re-settled, the University of Waikato marae occupied, Huntly mineral-bearing land re-claimed, One Tree Hill was hit and fierce opposition grew to counter what was deemed a programme of cash settlement for historical land confiscations. During these actions, the Treaty of Waitangi would be seen taking the floor, arguing to be considered and honoured, culminating in the fiery Waitangi Day protests of 1994 and 1995; my guess is, many of you will have memories of this Waitangi Day. Then came the infamous ‘Crying Helen' Waitangi Day in 1998 and Don Brash's ‘Waitangi Mud Facial' in 2004.

Is it any wonder that media commentators were looking for fireworks at Waitangi this year? And they got it, in a way.

We heard Waitangi Day was being celebrated this year in Kaitaia, Whangarei, Waitangi, Auckland, The Domain, Waitakere, Manurewa, Hamilton, Innes Common, Rotorua, Mauao, Taupo, Turanga Nui a Kiwa, Hawkes Bay, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Patea, New Plymouth, Wellington, Porirua, Frank Kitts Park, Hataitai (One Love and Jah!), Kaikoura, Nelson, Christchurch, Otago, Invercargill, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, London, New York and California!! It's amazing. The Treaty of Waitangi could be said to be a World-wide phenomenon. The Treaty of Waitangi stimulated the launch of a book, The State of the Maori Nation, by Malcolm Mulholland (Reed, 2005) and provided a platform to discuss a Maori General Assembly at Waitangi itself. The Treaty of Waitangi was in song and on display. The Treaty looked to be well and truly alive.

I remember asking my koro and kuia how they celebrated Waitangi Day in their day and they looked at me quizzically and said “…celebrated?” Because today, that's what we're being asked to do – to celebrate and talk about the Treaty; to know about Te Tiriti o Waitangi; to muse over those key interpretations and misinterpretations; to consider how the Treaty could be lived today. To my kaumätua, the Treaty was something talked about quietly amongst themselves, in anticipation of a wider discussion; to me, Waitangi Day 2006 felt like the perfect time to finally ground that discussion.

So, how did we ground this discussion? We talked more about the articles than the principles and looked back in time to check ourselves today - for this will help us into the future. It was no longer a dialogue between Maori and Pakeha (although that's where it all starts) - Waitangi Day was a day for us all to sit, to sing, to talk and to consider. We considered Waitangi Day to be more than an angry day reciting a preamble and its accompanying 3 articles and started to make it a day for all Aotearoa - New Zealand..

It will be interesting to see if the Treaty of Waitangi survives the current talk on constitutional change. The Privy Council was sacrificed at the alter of the Supreme Court, and the Maori seats are still being questioned. Who says the Treaty is iron-clad? And should Waitangi Day even be celebrated, or should it be more a day to remember (which many have recognised by referring to Waitangi Day commemorations)? I personally think it would be a good time to locally welcome every new resident to Aotearoa, making the day one for powhiri and inclusion.

Well, as we look back at how the media represented Waitangi Day, tuck away fond memories of the day itself and pat ourselves for learning a little more about our collectively history, I have to ask – will the Treaty of Waitangi continue to bind us in unity or divide us through diversity? Will more people know February 6th as Bob Marley's birthday or as Waitangi Day? Finally, have all the problems of society been solved, making future Waitangi Day events protest-free? Time will most surely tell.

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Mahi Ora has played an invaluable role in providing home-based education for many years; now it was with great pleasure that we here at RANGIKAINGA welcome the team of Mahi Ora to our online community. Mahi Ora are currently promoting their innovative new life development programme, Mauri Ora and over the coming weeks, you can track the programme by clicking their link below. To read some of their student success stories click here.

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If you are interested in viewing photos from Waitangi Day here in the Wellington area; feel free to browse through our photos from the Festival of Elements in Porirua and the Waitangi Day commemorations at Frank Kitts Park in downtown Wellington.