The Waitangi Day event commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, a pivotal moment in New Zealand's history. Twenty-year-old Keshaan Te Waaka expresses her joy at witnessing a significant turnout of young Maori embracing their cultural symbols. The day also serves as a platform for protest, as Maori demonstrate against ongoing inequalities and treaty breaches. Te Waaka's emotional response highlights the generational impacts of these issues, illustrating a deep connection to her heritage and a desire for change in contemporary society.
It’s amazing here, I love it, I’m just so happy... Look how many [young Maori people] are here holding their flags that’s something my mum’s generation would never have done.
The event is often a site for demonstrations, with Maori protesting against the lack of progress made in tackling inequality and ongoing breaches of the treaty.
I was smiling and my mum was crying, so it shows the depth of generational effects this has had on us.
The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi...has been commemorated as a public holiday on 6 February since 1974.
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