Group Says Waitangi Day should be New Zealand Day

Waitangi Day should be New Zealand Day - Good Bastards

The Good Bastards group wants Waitangi Day to change its name to New Zealand Day.

``Our national day is supposed to be a day of pride and passion for all New Zealanders,’’ Good Bastards spokesman Paddy Sweeney said today.

``Instead it might better be called confrontation day judging from recent history,’’ he said.

The Good Bastards group was set up in 2001 by former West Coaster businessman Paddy Sweeney, now living in Australia. Good Bastards has its own beer label and an annual Good Bastards Day to coincide with the Melbourne Cup. It awards annual honours to Kiwis.

``Waitangi Day has been high jacked for political reasons. Let those who want go and have a protest up at Waitangi or anywhere protest. That’s fine if they want to protest. But let’s not destroy our national pride on New Zealand’s Day.’’

Australia leaves New Zealand for dead when it comes to celebrating their National Day on January 26, he said.

``Australia Day, it is a day of immense pride and celebration.

``Differences on race, creed or colour are put away and the country comes together on this great day. People everywhere greet each other with ‘Happy Australia Day’.

``New Zealand needs to get its deep and strong passion going in a similar unified fashion instead of this confrontation bullshit.’’

He said his Good Bastards group will launch an event next year with an appropriate event and encourage the rest of the country to get behind the pride of being a Kiwi and take it on further and reclaim the lost passion of New Zealand Day.

``Don’t leave it to government. All politicians are glorified prima donnas that can’t get their five minutes of fame in the real world,’’ Sweeney said.

Copyright 2004 Word of Mouth Media NZ