this is fixed in the latest alpha of nvi.  i've been running it since it
was released a couple of weeks ago without hassle.  you can just drop it
in /usr/src/usr.bin/vi, delete the `PORT' directory, and all is cool.

ftp://ftp.cs.berkeley.edu/ucb/4bsd/nvi.ALPHA.1.43.tar.gz

(you'll have to rename `nvi.1.43' to `vi' in /usr/src/usr.bin)

remember to report any problems with *this* vi to bostic@cs.berkeley.edu,
not the netbsd team.