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BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - WAITANGI DAY Thursday 6th February 1997 Today is Waitangi Day in New Zealand and the crew's of the BT Global Challenge yachts have taken the opportunity to add an additional bank holiday day to the list of British one's they already celebrate. Waitangi Day, celebrated throughout New Zealand is a public holiday to celebrate the signing of a the Treaty of Waitangi. More than 400 Maori's and a few dozen British settlers gathered in Waitangi in New Zealand's Bay of Islands to establish and sign the Treaty of Waitangi 1840. The treaty was an agreement between Her Majesty Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Native Maori Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand for the shared possession of land and fisheries, allowing the Maori's "undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates Forests Fisheries and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession". The Queen then extended to the Maori's her royal protection and all the rights and privileges of British subjects. At that time there were only a few thousand European settlers compared to an estimated 115,000 Maori's. Mutual trade interests had already been established, and the Treaty set the scene for a more harmonious trading relationship and the British Government decided it was imperative to secure Maori acceptance and co-operation in establishing NZ as a British Colony. Some people celebrate Waitangi day in traditional Maori style. They cook their meat under ground in narrow, fairly deep pits. The stones are made hot on a fire and then lowered into the ground where they retain their heat and cook the meat slowly for several hours. Meanwhile a number of foreign diplomats are invited by the Governor General of New Zealand to take afternoon tea at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand. The crews of the BT Global Challenge had to carry out their usual duties during the day, but joined the New Zelanders later in the day to help them celebrate. For updated information on the BT Global Challenge : Internet site : http//www.btchallenge.com Fax database : 0990 321123 (+44 990 321123 from outside UK) Recorded telephone information line : 0891 505550 (UK only) Public enquiry bureau : 01703 212124 (+44 1703 212124 from outside UK) |
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