A Maori Presbyterian Church leader says he will join the push for an annual national day to commemorate the New Zealand Wars.
Reverend Wayne Te Kaawa, the moderator of the church's Maori synod, backs the calls made last month by the Waikato-Tainui leader Tukoroirangi Morgan.
Mr Te Kaawa said he would get as many people involved as possible to create the day, including churches, and get people to talk to local politicians.
He said the holiday should be something like the commemoration day held in Tauranga on Tuesday, which involved powhiri, church ceremonies and a dawn service.
He said there were several days that would suit, including the anniversaries of the Battle of Gate Pa, the Battle of Orakau and the day Parihaka was invaded.
