Maj Gen Mateparae had successfully "melded together" the traditions of the Maori warrior and the British army, Defence Minister Phil Goff said.The day a Maori is elected head of state in Aotearoa, and all New Zealanders are known as Aotearoans, then maybe Aotearoa will have left it's colonial past behind.
"I am immensely proud as a New Zealander... to serve. I am also immensely proud as a member of Ngati Tuwharetoa [tribe] to be selected," he said.
The citizens of Aotearoa today are not only of Maori or British origin. Many are of French, Swiss, Asian origin and more. The attachment to the British crown or the British army is nonsensical - in my opinion.
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