With all the pirau korero (poison pen) flying around about the Maorification of our country perhaps we should run a couple of encouragement ensigns up the whanau flagpole.
The first is the brilliant and brave performance by Bethlehem College and TKM in their play 'The Battle of Gate Pa”.
The second is the brilliant and brave decision by BOP Regional Council to fly the Maori flag on days of special significance. For me the koru in the middle of this flag says more about the ‘Maorification' or ‘Maoricelebration' of our beautiful country than anything else we could hoist up a pole. The koru signifies a rebirth and hope for the future - a sentiment we should all be wishing for, no matter what our political persuasion or skin colour may be.
Tommy Kapai, Te Puna.