Today is New Zealand’s national day, and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, generally accepted as being the founding document of New Zealand. A reaty signed by the maori tribes, and the Crown. Controversy still reigns regarding its place in modern New Zealand, all not helped by the English and Maori language versions not being equialent.
It is a national holiday so the local world in the main is out enjoying itself. We have been to “One Love”, a music festival at the Velodrome, in Hataitai. It is the cool festival put on by Radioactive, in recognition od it also being Bob Marley’s birthday today. The performers included Little Bushman, previously mentioned on this blog, and The Black Seeds.
The Little Bushman played and eclectic set with echoes of Pink Floyd again, Jimi Hendrix and a number of “Blues” style numbers.
The Black Seeds were very professional and played well, and the crowd loved them, lapping up their well polished, recognisable tunes. The are white boy reggae artists-think UB40 but better with their own original material.Eleanor and her mates seemed to enjoy themselves, though Isaac was a little less impressed with the event. The pizza and ice cream seemed to help his mood.
So today makes the nation think what is means to be a Kiwi. So what does one need to do or think to be in the Kiwi mindset, and have a good change of passing the citizen examination?
- love the All Blacks
- think 7s rugby is important
- consider the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy as the best films ever
- winge about Australia stealing all the successful Kiwis for its own
- think it rains more in Britain than NZ, and is always cold there
- think you cannot have too many hakas
- think that NZ has the ideal “lifestyle” captured
- hot dogs come on a stick
- one needs casual and formal jandals
Happy Waitangi Day!
Ps It was 24Celsius today and not a drop of snow insight.
It’s always snowing in England.
