MANA Leader Hone Harawira

The Prime Minister should always attend Treaty commemorations at Waitangi, and just like in 1840, that means accepting the good with the bad” said MANA Leader Hone Harawira.

“The Treaty of Waitangi is called that for the simple reason that it was signed at Waitangi, on the 6th of February 1840”

“The Treaty is known as the ‘cornerstone of our constitution’ and Waitangi is called the ‘birthplace of the nation’ for very good reason. Waitangi is where the chiefs gathered to discuss the Treaty, to hear the arguments of others and eventually to sign the document we now know as the Treaty of Waitangi, on 6 Feb 1840”

“And when somebody wants to run the country, then they have an obligation once a year, to honour the commemoration of the signing of the Treaty by turning up to Waitangi, being welcomed onto the marae and expressing their views”

“If Bill English wants to commemorate the signing of the Treaty by going somewhere else, fine – here’s a list of the 50 other places around the country where it was signed so there’s plenty of opportunity for him to do it elsewhere, on those dates.

“But on the 5th and 6th of February every year, it is appropriate that the Prime Minister attend the Treaty commemorations at Waitangi”

ENDS
Text Hone on 021 865 372 for any further information or interviews
List of places and dates when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed

Waitangi, 6 February 1840
Bay of Islands, Date unknown
Bay of Islands probably, Date unknown
Waimate North, 9–10 February 1840
Mangungu, 12 February 1840
Bay of Islands, 17 February 1840
Karaka Bay, 4 March 1840
Kaitāia, 28 April 1840
Bay of Islands, 13? May 1840
Karaka Bay?, 9 July 1840
Russell, 5 August 1840
Manukau, 20 March 1840
Kāwhia, 28 April 1840
Kāwhia, 21 May 1840
Kāwhia, 25 May 1840
Kāwhia, 15 June 1840
Kāwhia, 27 August 1840
Kāwhia, 3 September 1840
Waikato Heads, Late March or early April 1840
Manukau Harbour, 26 April 1840
Waikato, Date unknown
Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
Ōpōtiki, 27-28 May 1840
Tōrere, 11 June 1840
Te Kaha, 14 June 1840
Tōrere, 14 June 1840
Whakatāne, 16 June 1840
Coromandel, 4 May 1840
Mercury Island, 7 May 1840
Akaroa, 30 May 1840
Ruapuke, 10 June 1840
Otago Heads, 13 June 1840
Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
Mana Island, 19 June 1840
Hawke’s Bay, 24 June 1840
Port Nicholson, 29 April 1840
Queen Charlotte Sound, 4-5 May 1840
Rangitoto, 11 May 1840
Kapiti?, 14 May 1840
Ōtaki?, 19 May 1840
Tawhirihoe, 21 May 1840
Manawatū, 26 May 1840
Whanganui, 31 May 1840
Waikanae, 16 May 1840
Whanganui, 23 May 1840
Motungārara, 4 June 1840
Tūranga, 5-12 May 1840
Ūawa, 16-17 May 1840
Whakawhitira Waiapu, 25-31 May 1840
Rangitukia Waiapu, 1 June 1840
Tokomaru, 9 June 1840