Burn The Beehive Day – CANCELLED

Today, July 23, was supposed to be Burn The Beehive Day.
Today was intended to be a new national holiday when all New Zealanders could put aside their differences and gather together, metaphorically and literally, to enjoy the burnination of an iconic loved/hated NZ building, and thereafter commemorate it annually with a long weekend.
But this promising new celebration isn’t going to be held this year. No, too many New Zealanders feel strongly about the buildings being destroyed in the Middle East to smile at the destruction of a building here. And how, in this atmosphere of international tension, will it be possible to emphasise that BTBD is an apolitical expression of mutual respect as well as the sheer joy of burnin’ stuff? The possibility that BTBD would be co-opted by one political pressure group or another is too great.
And so, with sadness, but with confidence that this is the right decision, it has been decided that the first BTBD will wait for next year.
Then, crowds will gather together in the courtyard of New Zealand’s parliament, and holding their little waxen Beehive candles they will watch as fires are lit in the Beehive. Children will clap and parents will smile and teenagers will look up from their cellphones for a moment. MPs will stand with labour unionists and business roundtable members, all united. All of New Zealand will join hands and, together, sing for our unity, our communal goodwill, and our mutual appreciation for burnin’ stuff up real damn good.
Next year.
Burn The Beehive Day

7 thoughts on “Burn The Beehive Day – CANCELLED”

  2. The Beehive is an evil building of roundness with a lobby that is far too large, tiny lifts, and curved walls you can’t even put a whiteboard on.
    On the plus side it was always funny stepping out of the lifts and watching people walk in dazed circles because they couldn’t find the exit.

  4. I’m one of those dazed people delivering something. Whenever I’ve gone there, no matter whether it is to the same place for the umpteenth time, I always get confused. There is something about the place that bends your mind and distorts reality. I am sure there is a joke in there about the quantam mechanics. I just can’t find it.

  5. I suspect the real reason for the cancellation is that none of the organizers were actually organized enough.
    I, on the other hand, was very organized and quite cheerfully burned the Beehive yesterday.

  6. Pearce – So what’s the large Beehive shaped building with the flag on top of it that I see from my window? Am I hallucinating or did it respawn?
    Andy – the way to not be confused is to look for the large beam thing in the ceiling on each level. It always points toward Parliament House 🙂

  7. Janet – don’t assume that “the Beehive” is the same Beehive that you’re thinking of. The Government isn’t the only Hive Mind in town.

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