Should we have a separate New Zealand Day?
14 August 2007
Poll Outcome
Yes – 79%
No – 21%
For many New Zealanders Waitangi Day will always to some degree be a day focused on Treaty grievances, and this aspect will dominate. But it would be nice to have a New Zealand Day which unashamedly focused on the positives and achievements of New Zealand and New Zealanders.
While we do not feel comfortable blowing our own trumpet, it would be nice to be able to celebrate once a year the things that make New Zealand a great place to live; being the first country to give women the vote, the achievements of Hillary and Blake, the film achievements of many Kiwis, our literature, our natural heritage and our communities.
Inevitably the arguments against a New Zealand Day focus on two things:
- The downgrading of the importance Waitangi Day and the Treaty in the eyes of many Maori and Pakeha New Zealanders.
- The institution of another public holiday to the detriment of New Zealand’s business and industry productivity
United Future Position:
New Zealand is right to honour the Treaty as our nation's founding document and the visible sign of a contract between Maori and the settlers. But it is no longer 1840 and there have been huge changes in New Zealand's culture and demographics. It's time for New Zealand to recognise this new reality with a national day that is not a day of grievance, but celebrates the things that unite us. We do not have to get rid of Waitangi Day to do that, a separate New Zealand Day, unaffiliated to the Treaty and all the baggage that goes with it is an appropriate way for New Zealanders to celebrate our country’s achievements.
Over time, it is inevitable that we will make greater changes and we will have a new flag, a new constitution and a republican form of government.