Te Karere - Waitangi Day 1984

After waiting for two hours, the Governor-General left.

– Reporter Whai Ngata on the departure of Governor-General David Beattie, early in this report

Nō te rua haora e tatari ana, ka hiki te Kāwana.

– Whai Ngata

We comport ourselves according to these words 'Go with peace and love.' The many people of our many canoes must hold firm and fast to this intent.

– Pumi Taituha

Ōku nei whakaaro. Na, kua kite mai te Kāwana Tianara, te motu katoa; kua huihui katoa ngā Māori, kua kite rātou i te mana Māori, te kaha o te aroha ki te huihui te iwi.

– Eva Rickard

My thoughts are these. Now, the Governor-General and the whole nation have seen that we Māori have come together. They've seen our Māori pride and love in action if the people gather.

– Eva Rickard

A watershed came in 1984. A hīkoi (march) to Waitangi, organised in protest against celebrating the day, included representatives of many tribes, church leaders and some Pākehā. The impact of the protest was blunted when Governor-General David Beattie, James Hēnare and Hiwi Tauroa waited in vain for two hours to meet hīkoi leaders. The expression of kotahitanga (oneness of purpose) was impressive, and two hui followed, calling for a Māori consensus on the Treaty and no further Waitangi celebrations until the Treaty had been honoured.

– Summary of events at Waitangi in 1984, NZ History website

Te rerekētanga i ērā wā te harikoa o te tangata ki ngā hui o Waitangi. Nō roto pea i tekau tau kua pahure nei ka timata te rerekē haere o ngā hui ki Waitangi.

– James Hēnare

The difference in those days was that people came to hui at Waitangi in a spirit of joy. In the last decade perhaps, hui at Waitangi have started to change.

– James Hēnare

Kei te whakatikatika mātou i tēnei kōrero 'Haere i runga i te rangimārie me te aroha.' Kia ū, kia mau ngā mātāwaka katoa ki tēnei kaupapa.

– Pumi Taituha