Editorial: Our national day

I know Waitangi Day was two days ago and we've all moved on to other things like cricket, sevens and our relationship with Australia, but it's still worth pausing to reflect on what our national day has become.

No, I'm not going to say what you're all thinking. That's Paul Henry's job.

For many of us, Waitangi Day has become a day of celebration, a day of family and of course, a day off work.

But not everyone sees cause to celebrate.

Because our national day is also, quite importantly, a day to reflect on the making of, and continuing story of, a nation.

It would be nice if it stopped there. But no.

First you have the annual round of whining about the day _ with, as Lizzie Marvelly notes, the oft-heard question "Why can't Waitangi Day be more like Australia Day?''.

Where have those people been? Obviously nowhere near Whakarewarewa or the Ngongotaha Rail Trust where celebrations took place on Thursday.

Obviously nowhere near our lakes and beaches or backyard barbecues.

What do they want? Fireworks?

The only fireworks we're used to seeing on Waitangi Day are from those taking advantage of the national spotlight at Te Tii Marae to air their grievances.

At this point a second wave of complaints is aired, both from those who think protests and protesters should be ignored by the media, and those who think doing so would be ``stifling debate''. (Ironically those who throw accusations of ``stifling debate'' are the first to shout down opposing opinions.)

At some point surely complaining about protests against demonstrating gets ridiculous.
It may be our national day but Waitangi Day is what you make it.

You have every right to highlight past wrongs, just as you have every right to strenuously avoid social media and TV news on the day, enjoy the sun and maybe even read a book - a history book perhaps?