Waitangi Day: The New Zealand Story
by Philippa Werry
New Holland, January 2015
Aimed
at younger readers but providing an excellent resource for the whole family,
this new book looks at the rich history behind Waitangi Day, universally
recognised as New Zealand's national day. It reviews the historic events behind
the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 and charts the celebrations,
tensions and protests witnessed in the years that followed, concluding with a
summary of the Waitangi Day events held around the country on 6th February
today.
All aspects of the story are covered, from the first interactions in
Northland with Maori, sealers, whalers and missionaries, to the gifting of the
treaty grounds by Lord and Lady Bledisloe, the impact of the New Zealand Wars
and two World Wars, royal visits, the rise of Maori activism and claims for
sovereignty. Historic and colour photographs portray the numerous historic
sites in and around the Bay of Islands which have relevance to the Waitangi
story, and record the politics of change that led to formal recognition of The
Waitangi Day Act in 1976. An engaging informative text gives children a very
well balanced view of the significance and background to New Zealand's
celebration of Waitangi Day.
Philippa
was at Waitangi for Waitangi Day this year and has posted photos of the day on
her author Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PhilippaWerry.writer)
as well a description of the experience on her blog: http://philippawerry.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/what-i-expected-from-day-at-waitangi.html
You
can also listen to her interview with Kathryn Ryan on Nine to noon here: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/20166165/children%27s-book-%27waitangi-day%27,-author-philippa-werry
Part of the crowd at Waitangi
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