新西兰英语 103 Waitangi Day 2009

　　See Waitangi Day 2008
Today, Waitangi celebrations were held as usual but it was not a day of protest¹. It was a day for celebrating that Maori and Pakeha people are united in this country. Thousands of families came to celebrate. They enjoyed the food, the music, the waka (canoes), the speeches and the warm weather. The Prime² Minister, John Key, and many other MPs attended the celebrations beginning with a church service at dawn this morning.
The day before Waitangi Day is an important day for Maori to discuss matters with MPs at the lower marae at Waitangi. John Key attended. Two protesters tried to attack John Key but police quickly took them away. John Key said that two people should not spoil³ the events at Waitangi and he was happy to continue with the celebrations.
Other cities and towns also celebrated⁴ Waitangi Day. Porirua, just north of Wellington, Okains Bay in Canterbury and Bluff⁵ in Southland all had celebrations at local marae.
Many people are wondering what has happened to the usual protest. Some years there has been so much protest and so much noise that people have stayed away from Waitangi. Protesters believe that Maori have not been treated fairly. On February 6th 1840, Maori and the British government signed a treaty⁶ to share this country in a fair manner.
The National government has given the Maori Party some power in this government and perhaps Maori people feel positive about the future.

1 protest   

v.反对，抗议；宣称；n.抗议；宣称

参考例句：

• I can't pass the matter by without a protest.我不能对此事视而不见，我要提出抗议。
• We translated his silence as a protest.我们把他的沉默解释为抗议。

2 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

3 spoil   

n.战利品，赃物，奖品，掠夺，次品；vt.损坏，破坏，溺爱；vi.腐坏，掠夺

参考例句：

• Don't bunch the flowers up so tightly,you'll spoil them.别把花束得这么紧，会弄坏的。
• Overacting will only spoil the effect.表演过火，效果反而不好。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 bluff   

v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗

参考例句：

• His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
• John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。

6 treaty   

n.条约；协议，协定

参考例句：

• Hungary has indicated its readiness to sign the treaty.匈牙利已表示愿意签订该条约。
• I believe this treaty will pave the way to peace in Europe. 我相信这个条约将为欧洲的和平铺平道路。