There are two factions in this debate that disagree vehemently about Waitangi Day. One side is echoing the voice of a mainstream radio breakfast announcer for a Maori radio station who emailed me saying "I can't see anybody that celebrates a breach of contract ....nothing to celebrate in my books" or those that echo the voice of David, a talkback caller who stated ".while these Harawiras are in parliament, Pat, and while the mother and the families stick their claws in your gonna have a divided country."

There are genuine reasons to talk about these two sides, there are issues to debate, and we should. All we are saying is let's start that again on Monday and have one day off, our national day, and have a BBQ and a beer with our mate, all of our mates Pakeha, Maori, Asian, Pacific Islander whoever.

This initiative has a lot of political support, across the house, and around the country. Here are some statements of support from our Politicians. All of these are messages sent to us directly as specific support for this Waitangi Day BBQ cause.

John Key "Waitangi Day marks a very important day in New Zealand's history. It's a day to celebrate the unique and ambitious treaty signed by our forebears in 1840, and the growing unity between Maori and other New Zealanders in our communities. I'm proud to be Prime Minister of this great country, and I look forward to Waitangi Day celebrations on February 6."

Phil Goff "Waitangi Day is the day we celebrate the foundation of modern New Zealand. It reflects the bicultural foundation of our country. But it is a day for all Kiwis to come together and celebrate a country that has much to offer its people. It should be a day to celebrate ourselves and to value how really special - and what beautiful country it is. It is a country where people of all different origins live together in respect and harmony and it is a country with real potential to deliver a decent life to all its people."

Pita Sharples "Tautoko Pat! The Treaty is for all New Zealanders to celebrate how we came together, and the shared values that keep us living together in peace. We all value our own histories and traditions, and with mutual recognition and respect, co-operation, and the utmost good faith, we have unity in our diversity. So gather round the barbie, and give thanks for what our ancestors have given us. Kia ora, Pita Sharples."

Peter Dunne "Pat, I agree entirely with your sentiment. UnitedFuture has long held that New Zealand needs a National Day it can be proud of, not just another excuse for a holiday or long weekend. Waitangi Day is a day for all of us, whatever our background, to celebrate the greatest thing we have in common - the fact that we all live here."

Jim Anderton "Waitangi Day for me is when we should celebrate the new New Zealand - with our diversity of culture and the development of what I call our Ngāti Kiwi nationhood.

On this day, we celebrate the uniqueness of New Zealanders - where we have all come from and what we have and can become.

It is the day on which we should, in particular, celebrate the strong and enduring relationship between Māori and non-Māori, which is the true reality of the New Zealand I love."

Len Brown
On this day, we celebrate the uniqueness of New Zealanders - where we have all come from and what we have and can become.

It is the day on which we should, in particular, celebrate the strong and enduring relationship between Māori and non-Māori, which is the true reality of the New Zealand I love."

Joris De Bres

"Hi Pat, I'm all for a saussie and a coldie on Waitangi Day. Maybe the GG will have them at his garden party in Auckland. Apart from that I'll look out for a saussie, kaimoana, masala prawns or honey soy chicken at the Manukau and Okahu Bay Waitangi Day Festivals."

Waitangi Day is a day for all New Zealanders, if in WW1 the allies and the Germans can call a truce on Christmas eve and have a game of football, surely we, who are all mates, can gather round a BBQ on our national day and have a sausage and a coldie.

ENDS

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