Photo caption: Dame Whina Cooper – a grandmother, who once cloaked herself in truth and became Waitangi Day’s meaning as a leader, and who took action so the Spirit of The Treaty of Waitangi would be visible and have hands and feet and voice, when some of US were growing up. Our future to express ourselves and be ourselves depended on this woman, to do this for us. This Waitangi Day I celebrate Dame Whina Cooper and my grandparents and their generation of her ilk, feisty spirit, strong heart and fearlessness to be uniquely themselves.
1. I am thankful that my Pakeha dad overcame government policy of the day fourty-six years ago, and saw through its slanted blind-sightedness to see the beauty of my Maori mom, to court her, marry her and honor the spirit of The Treaty of Waitangi, in a real and living way based on true love.
2. I am thankful that “Kia Ora” means hello in New Zealand – and everyone knows it and can say it. Kia ora also means “thank you” and “life be to you.” The Maori language is so beautiful and is upheld and protected by law under The Treaty of Waitangi.
3. I am thankful that early Pakeha descendants of New Zealand learned the Maori language fluently, like Scotsman Robert Graham, Auckland City’s first magistrate. He set an example of Treaty-honoring living in his thought processes, life and actions for all Kiwis to emulate his example. He also was the first New Zealander to promote New Zealand to the world as a high-quality tourism destination too. Not only did he believed that New Zealand’s thermal properties were healing, or New Zealand landscapes spiritual and stunning to be in, but he also believed that Maori people and Maori culture are unique wonders of the world to be in Maori’s presence.
4. Because of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealanders are some of the best kaitiaki (or guardians) of environmental protection and our role as people of the earth, through what has been learned and articulated by Maori scholars, thinkers and leaders in light of Maori peoples key role as kaitiaki of landscape, place, people.
5. Because of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, New Zealanders honoring the concept of ‘Tino Rangatiratanga’ or sovereignty in one’s unique humanness towards Indigenous Maori New Zealanders; all New Zealanders have been deepened to become aware of human rights in the world – and where people’s intrinsic uniqueness is being violated by multi-national corporations, corrupt governments, or, dictators in the world. As a nation, New Zealand excels at being aware of where human rights are being breached globally. We have ‘tino rangatiratanga’ to thank for this awareness perhaps in New Zealand culture.
