Pakaitore made us grow up

I WAS not in New Zealand 20 years ago when the occupation of Pakaitore/Moutoa Gardens made national headlines.

So I have no expertise when it comes to analysing the political and cultural issues of the action that divided the Wanganui community and became the focus of media attention.

But I have been fascinated reading the accounts of those who were there in 1995, which ran in the Chronicle all last week.

Some things become clear ...

How the action stunned much of the community - it had been building among Maori but elsewhere many were oblivious to the growing resentment, perhaps believing Maori had their place and knew their place in the scheme of things.

A rude awakening, then - one that saw many non-Maori side with the occupiers and, on the other side of the fence, latent racism rear its head.

Another thing that struck me about the 80-day face-off was how peaceful it was. Such direct action often leads to physical conflict but contrast Pakaitore with the pitched battles of the Springbok tour protests or - in Britain, where I was - the picket line violence of the miners' strike.

The occupation, and the way it was handled on both sides, could be an object lesson of how to deal with similar flashpoints.

Aggression may produce short-term gain, but calm, considered and dignified protest - long-term - will usually lead to better outcomes.

And the outcome for Wanganui has been a more equitable relationship between Maori and non-Maori and a greater understanding of issues that can ignite such passions.

Twenty years isn't very long ago but reading those stories, it could be a lifetime ago. Things have changed ... for the better.

The scenes of 1995 contrast starkly with the relaxed celebration hosted on Pakaitore on Saturday.

The police commander in charge at the time, Alec Waugh, commented last week: "I think Wanganui grew up another level from Moutoa Gardens."