Post by Kiwi Frontline on Apr 16, 2017 6:25:43 GMT 12
UNPUBLISHED LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 10/4/17)
It is always entertaining to read Tommy Kapai's column (10 April) particularly when he is in his history revision mode. In his opinion piece on Whakamarama it is interesting how he avoids mentioning facts which don't help his narrative.
He fails to mention that the Pirirakau were Hauhaus and followers of the Pai Marire religious cult which believed that chants would ward off bullets. Other practices included decapitations, the removal of the hearts of enemy soldiers, and cannibalism.
He also fails to mention that the attack on Whakamarama was mainly by Te Arawa who were loyal to the Crown and had an intense dislike of the Hauhau movement. Has an apology been asked of Te Arawa, I wonder?
He claims that 290,000 acres of Tauranga land was confiscated but omits to mention that 240,000 acres was returned also with help in the form of seed and tools.
Tommy should be reminded that being able to write a column for the BOP Times is privilege and it should not be used as vehicle for parading half-truths which can only but poison the well of race relations.
RICHARD PRINCE, Welcome Bay
Kapai’s column here > www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11835115
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 30/3/17
So Peter Dey now accepts (BOP Times 30 March) that the claim of people being burnt to death in a church at Rangiaowhia is wrong (It is to be hoped that Dame Susan Devoy will accept this too). Why then should we have any more faith in his other assertions.
He claims Rangiaowhia was undefended. Really! I can’t wait for him to claim that the British soldiers that were killed there shot themselves. Rangiaowhia was a supply village supplying food to the Kingite Garrisons. I find it unbelievable that anybody would consider a village fulfilling that role in the Wars could in some way be a sanctuary for women and children.
Sound war practice is to cut off supplies to the enemy and that is why Cameron attacked Rangiaowhia. His success was the beginning of the end of the Wars.
The definitive historian of the NZ Wars is James Cowan. He spoke fluent Maori, he tramped to the battle sites, he interviewed veterans both Maori and British and named them. Vincent O’Malley can in no way match his credentials.
RICHARD PRINCE, Welcome Bay
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 24/3/17
On reading the letter from Peter Dey this morning I am confused. The
information about the whare being burnt with seven Maori and Sergeant
McHale has never been in dispute.
It was the original untrue statement by Susan Devoy of the "atrocity"
that women and children were locked in a church by Crown soldiers and
set alight which was the crux of the whole argument.
It never happened!
ROBIN BISHOP. Tauranga
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers/unpublished-letters
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 10/4/17)
It is always entertaining to read Tommy Kapai's column (10 April) particularly when he is in his history revision mode. In his opinion piece on Whakamarama it is interesting how he avoids mentioning facts which don't help his narrative.
He fails to mention that the Pirirakau were Hauhaus and followers of the Pai Marire religious cult which believed that chants would ward off bullets. Other practices included decapitations, the removal of the hearts of enemy soldiers, and cannibalism.
He also fails to mention that the attack on Whakamarama was mainly by Te Arawa who were loyal to the Crown and had an intense dislike of the Hauhau movement. Has an apology been asked of Te Arawa, I wonder?
He claims that 290,000 acres of Tauranga land was confiscated but omits to mention that 240,000 acres was returned also with help in the form of seed and tools.
Tommy should be reminded that being able to write a column for the BOP Times is privilege and it should not be used as vehicle for parading half-truths which can only but poison the well of race relations.
RICHARD PRINCE, Welcome Bay
Kapai’s column here > www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11835115
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 30/3/17
So Peter Dey now accepts (BOP Times 30 March) that the claim of people being burnt to death in a church at Rangiaowhia is wrong (It is to be hoped that Dame Susan Devoy will accept this too). Why then should we have any more faith in his other assertions.
He claims Rangiaowhia was undefended. Really! I can’t wait for him to claim that the British soldiers that were killed there shot themselves. Rangiaowhia was a supply village supplying food to the Kingite Garrisons. I find it unbelievable that anybody would consider a village fulfilling that role in the Wars could in some way be a sanctuary for women and children.
Sound war practice is to cut off supplies to the enemy and that is why Cameron attacked Rangiaowhia. His success was the beginning of the end of the Wars.
The definitive historian of the NZ Wars is James Cowan. He spoke fluent Maori, he tramped to the battle sites, he interviewed veterans both Maori and British and named them. Vincent O’Malley can in no way match his credentials.
RICHARD PRINCE, Welcome Bay
Dear Editor, (Sent to the Bay of Plenty Times 24/3/17
On reading the letter from Peter Dey this morning I am confused. The
information about the whare being burnt with seven Maori and Sergeant
McHale has never been in dispute.
It was the original untrue statement by Susan Devoy of the "atrocity"
that women and children were locked in a church by Crown soldiers and
set alight which was the crux of the whole argument.
It never happened!
ROBIN BISHOP. Tauranga
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers/unpublished-letters