Waitangi out for Sir Paul

Press, 30 January 1986, Page 2

Waitangi out for Sir Paul

PA Wellington The Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves, will attend the Government’s Waitangi Day reception at Wellington on February 6, and will miss a Maori ceremony at Waitangi. Sir Paul’s decision was announced yesterday by his official secretary, Mr Paul Canham. The Minister of Lands, .Mr Wetere, announced

last month that the official Government observance of Waitangi Day would be moved from Waitangi to Wellington this year. But he noted that it was likely the Tai Tokerau people would arrange a local ceremony at Waitangi. An invitation for Sir Paul to attend the local ceremony to be held by

northern tribes has been sent to him by the Mayor of Whangarei, Mrs Joyce Ryan, and the member of Parliament for Northern Maori, Dr Bruce Gregory. Dr Gregory said on Tuesday that the invitation to Waitangi had been made after careful deliberation by respected elders, Maoris and pakehas. He said Sir Paul was in a unique position to bring together the strands of history, culture, races and spiritual considerations. In making the invitation, the northern people had been aware of the responsibility and support Sir Paul would have and need, said Dr Gregory.