The Early 1990s: Partnership Proposals

The formal programme in 1991 and 1992 was intended to reflect the Maori-Pakeha partnership of tangata whenua (people of the land) and tangata tiriti (people of the treaty), the latter a concept that aims to give non-Maori partners a feeling that they have a place to stand, a right to call New Zealand their turangawaewae.

As the 1993 commemoration approached, the National government's handling of treaty issues was creating divisions of opinion among both Pakeha and Maori. At Waitangi in 1993 there was a hardening of attitudes among both elders and activists. Embarrassed by events that year, Cabinet set up a ministerial working group to review options. However, it restricted its deliberations to events at Waitangi, which would be attended by Prince Charles in 1994, and apparently did not consider other possibilities.

This focus on Waitangi led to the 1994 programme being planned with care by both the Crown and Tai Tokerau (northern Maori). A working group embraced representatives of all groups involved, including protest groups. The Crown-Maori partnership was recognised by the co-chairing of the organisation by Deputy Prime Minister Don McKinnon and northern representative Pita Paraone.

New features were a forum on the marae at which government ministers and Maori exchanged views on treaty issues, and a sports/cultural festival on the treaty house grounds. In practical terms the review had now created new problems: more participants in the organisation, more agendas and a potentially explosive forum. Yet the revamped programme was moderately successful, protest was fairly low-key, and a similar programme was scheduled for 1995.