Waitangi 2024 celebration at The Ballance House

The liberal ideals of John Ballance continue to impact on daily life in New Zealand as the High Commissioner of NZ to the UK, the Hon Phil Goff, told guests attending the UNZT annual Waitangi Lunch. Ballance, a man, who strove to ensure settlers and Maori, males and females, all had equal opportunities.

Recounting the story of his own working class family and of more recent multi-ethnic immigrants Phil Goff gave an inspiring resume of the beliefs that John Ballance helped install in this liberal democracy. Vital beliefs, he affirmed, if harmony is to be maintained given that humans are sadly all too tribal.

Thanks also to Harrison and Bradley, over from Dilworth School NZ, for performing a haka for our guests.