By ANGELA GREGORY Maori issues reporter
Two elderly Maori knights will launch an ambitious 40-year development vision for their people on Waitangi Day, although they will never see its fruition.
Sir Graham Latimer, aged 74, and Sir John Turei, 82, have come up with a concept to mark the 200th anniversary in 2040 of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Sir John said he and Sir Graham did not feel that Maori had done enough to help themselves since 1840.
"In the past 160 years we have not come far. We have done some good things and some bad things, but not enough to advance ourselves."
Over the past two years, they had discussed what they could do to feel confident that Maori would be heading down the right track by the 200th anniversary.
Sir John said they had decided: "Hey, let's do something ... but let's work fast while we're still fit and able."
He said Maori had been dependent on Government handouts for too long.
"I hope things will be better by the time we leave this world."
The Tuhoe kaumatua said he and Sir Graham, of Ngati Kahu, went back to the 1940s, when they played tennis together at the Maori Community Centre in Auckland.
"We're very good friends, although he's National and I'm Labour."
Sir John said they had agreed on starting a development vision - "nothing radical" - from which a series of five-year plans would be kick-started.
"Every five years we will try something new and then assess whether it is working or not. If not, we will forget it."
Sir John hoped that by the end of the first 20 years there would be something concrete to show, "like some good Maori MPs, for instance."
The Waitangi Tribunal chairman, Justice Edward Durie, will launch the concept after a church service in front of Te Whare Runanga (meeting house) at 10 am.
Maori leaders will then discuss the vision and try to find ways of putting it into practice.
Sir John said it was fitting that the plan would be launched at Waitangi, as the site held a special place in his heart.
"I was the young lad who challenged Lord Bledisloe at the first 1934 Waitangi Day celebration."
He said the importance of Waitangi Day and the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds could never be diminished.
Sir John was disappointed that Prime Minister Helen Clark had kept Crown representatives away this year. "I think she received very bad advice. I don't think she's done the right thing."
Knights to launch crusade for Maori
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