A memorable Waitangi in Samoa

Written by Cherelle Jackson
Friday, 08 February 2008
HE Caroline Bilkey during her speech. New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa Her Excellency Caroline Bilkey held back tears during her Waitangi speech on Wednesday night. HE. Bilkey struggled to complete her speech after acknowledging the fight of New Zealand MP Luamanuvao Winnie Laban against cancer. “I’d like to pay tribute to the courage of Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs who has just publicly announced her battle with breast cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with her at this difficult time,” Bilkey said. In the presence of close to a 100 invited guests from the New Zealand community in Samoa, and the local community Bilkey went on to highlight the importance of Waitangi day to New Zealand. “The Treaty is the founding document of New Zealand and marks the beginning of a political compact between Maori and the Crown which continues to this day,” Bilkey said. According to her, the process of reconciliation continues to date. “We are now a diverse, multicultural nation and that diversity enriches us and equips us well to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” Bilkey said. Currently Samoans in New Zealand now number 140,000 and according to Bilkey they are making a very important contribution to New Zealand society in all aspects, especially sports and culture. The High Commissioner ended her speech with a toast to the Queen of New Zealand. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Friday, 08 February 2008 )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Polls

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

Google Satellite Map of Eveni Carruthers

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

"Where the natives buy and sell"

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

Latest Comments

Manu Samoa In Tough Pool For 2011 World Cup
all the way

Manu Samoa In Tough Pool For 2011 World Cup
samoa god blezz all of each one of you for playing for our country

Deadly Catch For Fisherman
The poor fisherman who minded his own business while trying to get home to his family is assaulted a...

Manu Samoa In Tough Pool For 2011 World Cup
Having the World cup in NZ is the closest we will get to having the world cup near Samoa. We need a ...

To Err Is Human! To Suffer From That Same Err Is A...
10 to 12 deaths first year of RHD----

Social Network

Join the Newsline Team on Bebo

www.bebo.com/newslineS

Become part of the Newsline Bebo Network

Get News via your Email

Subscribe to Samoa Live News Headlines by Email

Get the Latest News on your Blackberry or PDA

Subscribe in a reader

Sounds from Samoa

Listen to broadcasts from LiveSamoa.com
Courtesy of Plantation Feet, SBC(540am) and
Radio Polynesia(99.9 FM)

http://www.samoalive.com/sliveradio.asx

Live on Weekdays from 8am to 9am

Have your Say

We want your Opinion

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
If you would like to submit a letter for possible
publication in the print edition of the Newsline,
please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We want your News

Submit News from your Area
If you would like to submit News for possible
publication in both the online and print version
of Newsline please feel free to email us
at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Become a News Blogger
Have a passion for writing? Interested in
writing articles for Newsline? Email us
at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
We are looking for Bloggers from
around the world to contribute to our site.