Waitangi ceremony low key

Press, 6 February 1986, Page 3

Waitangi ceremony low key

JOHN ARMSTRONG,

By

NZPA political reporter Wellington The Government will be keeping its fingers crossed that switching the official Waitangi Day celebrations to Wellington has not backfired by providing a new fuse for any explosion of Maori grievances about the treaty. Publicly, the Government has said the move has been made because Wellington is the seat of power and it is there that treaty issues are addressed. However, the ceremony — a reception at the

Beehive — appears low key, not least because it is due to last only two hours and is being held inside during summertime. Being inside also means that, while the Armed Services will be represented, there will be no military salute — perhaps because the theme of the ceremony is peace and perhaps because a distinct military presence has previously drawn criticism. Instead, most of the movement will come from performances by ethnic groups — including a Lion Dance performed by the Wellington Chinese Angli-

can . Church Cultural Group. However, any Government hope that a Waitangi Day not at Waitangi would be a Waitangi Day without protest has been dashed.