February the 6th is the annual Waitangi Day. Now, I’m not an expert on New Zealand history but I think it is important to follow the national celebrations in order to get closer to this (and any other) nation. It makes sense to me. Waitangi Day is controversial: from what I have read the Maori population feels their rights were and still are not fully recognized by the dominant white population. The Treaty signed in 1840 is blamed for reinforcement of the social unjust order and the dominant population is mostly blamed for not recognizing its legal importance.
It would be naive to think that New Zealand has found a cure for all contemporary social problems. Just as Esther wrote in her last guest post there is still poverty visible and few other social problem that we wish to forget about. I don’t know to what extend the tension between Maori and white population is being managed or what is the national strategy to deal with it. It would be very unlikely, however, that any nation with a colonial heritage would be free of typical post-colonial problems.
But today I would like to express my delight with this country. New Zealand is really special. I saw many things in my life but visiting New Zealand was one of the best things I have ever done. And I am truly grateful that I went there in the first place and that I could experience their hospitality.
When I’m thinking about New Zealand today I would like to wish all New Zealanders all the best in the world. I hope your country will flourish so we could all visit it and be delighted about the wonders of nature you have there!
