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### Viewing cable 09WELLINGTON36, NZ NATIONAL DAY UNDERSCORES GOOD RELATIONS WITH MAORI

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09WELLINGTON36 | 2009-02-13 03:03 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Wellington

`

    VZCZCXRO0835
    RR RUEHDT RUEHPB
    DE RUEHWL #0036/01 0440303
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 130303Z FEB 09
    FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5679
    INFO RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 1847
    RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 5382
    RUEHAP/AMEMBASSY APIA 0535
    RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0795
    RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000036

    SIPDIS
    SENSITIVE

    STATE FOR STATE FOR EAP/ANP
    PACOM FOR J01E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM NZ
    SUBJECT: NZ NATIONAL DAY UNDERSCORES GOOD RELATIONS WITH MAORI

    WELLINGTON 00000036  001.2 OF 002

    ¶1. (SBU) Summary.  On February 6, New Zealand Prime Minister John
    Key joined Maori leaders at Waitangi, the site of the signing of the
    country's founding document, to commemorate New Zealand's National
    Day.  In recent years, this traditional event has been characterized
    by hostility by Maori activists over perceived historical and
    contemporary grievances.  Although Key himself was the victim of
    minor outburst at Waitangi, the day was nonetheless widely seen as
    the most harmonious and cordial Waitangi Day in recent memory.  This
    served to underscore the good relationship that currently exists
    between the new National-led Government and Maori, largely thanks
    Key's positive and inclusive approach toward Maori in the new
    government.  End Summary.

    NZ's National Day Means Protests for Some
    -----------------------------------------

    ¶2. (SBU)  On February 6, Prime Minister John Key, several members of
    his caucus, opposition politicians and Maori leaders and dignitaries
    descended on the small seaside township of Waitangi, north of
    Auckland, to commemorate New Zealand's National Day.  Waitangi is
    the site of the February 6, 1840 signing of New Zealand's founding
    document, the Treaty of Waitangi, between Maori tribes and the
    Crown.  New Zealand's National Day is commonly known as Waitangi
    Day.

    ¶3. (SBU)  Rather than a day of celebration, protest is typically the
    main act at Waitangi, particularly in recent years.  Some Maori
    activists use this day to protest against perceived historical
    injustices related to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi or
    policies of the government perceived as detrimental to Maori
    interests.  Such protests are usually directed at visiting political
    leaders and have been known to turn confrontational and violent.

    PM Key Assaulted on Arrival at Waitangi
    ---------------------------------------

    ¶4. (SBU)  Prime Minister Key, in his first visit to Waitangi as
    Prime Minister, was the victim of an isolated act of aggression at
    the 2009 Waitangi commemorations.  When Key alighted from his car on
    arrival, two Maori objected to his admission to the hallowed Te Tii
    Waitangi lower marae (Maori meeting place) and managed to breach the
    security cordon and briefly manhandle Key.  The assailants were
    quickly seized and led away.  A 19-year old and a 33-year old were
    later remanded in custody after they appeared in court on assault
    charges.  Though clearly shaken, Key was unhurt by the attack.  The
    Minister of Maori Affairs and co-leader of the Maori Party, Dr. Pita
    Sharples, was standing near Key when the attack happened and was
    knocked to the ground.  He too emerged unscathed.

    History of Hostility towards Visiting Politicians
    --------------------------------------------- ----

    ¶5. (SBU)  The attack on Key has historical precedent.  Recent
    attacks on New Zealand politicians attending commemorations at
    Waitangi have demonstrated how fraught with risk such a visit can
    be.  In 1998, then- opposition Labour Party leader Helen Clark was
    reduced to tears when her right to speak at the Te Tii Waitangi
    lower marae was angrily challenged by the well-known Maori activist
    Titewhai Harawira (Note:  Maori protocol prohibits women delivering
    an address at a marae.  End Note.).  As a result, Clark chose never
    to return to the lower marae and instead commemorated the National
    Day elsewhere in Waitangi.  In 2004, then Prime Minister Clark was
    heckled and jostled as she walked around Waitangi.  That same year,
    the then-National Party leader Dr. Don Brash was pelted with mud by
    angry Maori activists as he was being interviewed by journalists at
    Waitangi.

    ¶6. (SBU)  In contrast, John Key's appearance at Waitangi in 2008, as
    the new leader of the National Party, was free of incident and he
    was warmly welcomed by Maori.  The good impression made by Key
    during the 2008 visit set the context for his return to Waitangi a
    year later as prime minister.

    PM Assault Roundly Condemned by Maori Leaders
    ---------------------------------------------

    ¶7. (SBU)  Maori leaders, including Titewhai Harawira, immediately
    condemned the actions of the two men who assaulted Key.  They all
    asserted that the assailants did not represent the views of the
    majority of Maori.  Despite the attack, Key was warmly welcomed at
    Waitangi by Maori leaders and the public.  Key was quick to downplay
    the attack and affirmed that he was "not going to let a couple of
    glory seekers go out there and try and put the wrong perception on
    today."  He affirmed that it would not stop him from returning to
    the lower marae in the future and he would not let it detract from

    WELLINGTON 00000036  002.2 OF 002

    improved relations with Maori.  Said Key, "New Zealand is moving on,
    it's changing, and the way forward is through dialogue, an exchange
    of views and an understanding of each other's positions.  It's not
    from thumping the prime minister when he gets out of the crown car."
     In a public relations coup, he invited two young Maori admirers to
    sit with him at the event, which was widely caught by the media
    cameras.

    ¶8. (SBU)  The scuffle at the entrance to the lower marae was the
    only incident to mar what was almost uniformly seen as the most
    optimistic and festive Waitangi Days is recent memory.  Sharples
    called the 2009 event "one of the best."

    Key's Unite and Conquer Strategy with Maori
    -------------------------------------------

    ¶9. (SBU)  Key's governing strategy is central to his Government's
    good relationship with Maori, which is in stark contrast to his
    predecessor, Helen Clark.  Key's decision to invite into government
    the Maori Party at the 2008 election was very astute, even though he
    did not need its votes to form a governing majority.  At the 2005
    election, Clark stated that in terms of a governing partner option
    the Maori Party was "the last cab off the rank."  At the 2009
    Waitangi celebrations, Key praised the Maori Party for realizing it
    was better to be "part of the solution, not part of the problem"
    when it went into coalition with National.

    ¶10. (SBU)  Maori leaders appreciate Key's efforts. Sharples asserted
    that Maori are today feeling positive, after seeing the relationship
    between the Maori Party and the government at Waitangi.    Notably,
    even Titewhai Harawira praised the new government's approached to
    Maori, which has invited Maori to sit at the same table.  "I think
    that's so wonderful," she said.

    ¶11. (SBU)  Prior to Waitangi Day, Key had approved a request by
    Maori to fly a Maori flag on Auckland's Harbour Bridge on Waitangi
    Day.  As PM, Helen Clark never engaged on this issue and left the
    decision to the National Transport Authority, who never assented to
    the request on the basis that only national flags can be flown on
    the Bridge.  In Waitangi, Key went further and promised to have a
    Maori flag flying alongside the national flag from Parliament,
    Premier House (his official residence in Wellington) and Auckland
    Harbour Bridge on Waitangi Day in 2010.

    Comment:  Political Fight for Maori Vote Remains
    --------------------------------------------- ---

    ¶12. (SBU)  In the midst of proclamations of a renewed spirit at
    Waitangi and a new era of relations with Maori, politics were never
    far from the surface.  At Waitangi, both Key and new Labour Party
    Leader Phil Goff disagreed over which party has most to offer Maori.
     Both leaders were accompanied by large numbers of their respective
    parliamentary caucus and used the opportunity to woo Maori voters.
    Key cited the support deal with the Maori Party and stated that
    National has more to offer Maori than any other party. Goff, who
    like Key was also well received at Waitangi, rubbished the claim and
    asserted that Labour remains a strong friend of Maori.  However,
    Goff has not particularly endeared himself or his party to Maori
    since becoming Labour's leader following the 2008 election defeat.
    Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia called Goff "bloody patronizing"
    after he claimed that her party would face an electoral backlash for
    siding with National because most of its supporters gave their party
    vote to Labour.  Turia also noted that "while Labour goes and loudly
    tells (Maori) everything they do for them, the most empowering
    opportunities have come from National governments."  End Comment.

    Keegan

`