Post by Kiwi Frontline on Nov 10, 2018 6:21:59 GMT 12
Southland Times 10/11/18
GLARING HOLES IN THE MYTH OF PARIHAKA
I must take issue with your editorial of November 6, 2018.
The idea of Parihaka celebrations becoming a national celebration on November 5 is often promoted by those who stand to profit, groups in Taranaki and North Islanders with sympathies towards them.
But you don't have to scratch the surface of the Parihaka myth to find glaring holes.
The government had very good reasons to suppress what could easily be described as a terrorist training camp.
Not only were government spies within the camp recording stockpiling of weapons, but the man organising the units of dissidents puling up surveyors pegs etc and standing at the right hand of Te Whiti was also the great and terrifying Titokowaru.
His violent campaign prior to joining Parihaka was nearly successful in collapsing the North Island settlements, land prices plummeted as settlers fled to Australia.
His reviving cannibalism as a weapon of war and killing the legendary Von Tempsky is just the tip of an awesome story.
He also knew from personal experience how quickly leadership can change in those sort of movements, as did the government.
It should be remembered that the response of the South Island Maori communities to the Taranaki land wars was to raise funds for the displaced settlers and organise a militia to protect their Takata Pora, the southern term for Europeans, from the northerners.
The concept that Maori were and are a homogeneous nation with a united world view is the sort of institutionalised racism that has caused many of the problems Maori face today.
I would have expected the editor of Southland's paper to champion our world view as we are and always have been unique.
Guy Fawkes should remain as a reminder of the Protestant, Catholic silliness that brought many of our ancestors to Nui Tireni/New Zealand.
MARTIN MCCULLY
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
GLARING HOLES IN THE MYTH OF PARIHAKA
I must take issue with your editorial of November 6, 2018.
The idea of Parihaka celebrations becoming a national celebration on November 5 is often promoted by those who stand to profit, groups in Taranaki and North Islanders with sympathies towards them.
But you don't have to scratch the surface of the Parihaka myth to find glaring holes.
The government had very good reasons to suppress what could easily be described as a terrorist training camp.
Not only were government spies within the camp recording stockpiling of weapons, but the man organising the units of dissidents puling up surveyors pegs etc and standing at the right hand of Te Whiti was also the great and terrifying Titokowaru.
His violent campaign prior to joining Parihaka was nearly successful in collapsing the North Island settlements, land prices plummeted as settlers fled to Australia.
His reviving cannibalism as a weapon of war and killing the legendary Von Tempsky is just the tip of an awesome story.
He also knew from personal experience how quickly leadership can change in those sort of movements, as did the government.
It should be remembered that the response of the South Island Maori communities to the Taranaki land wars was to raise funds for the displaced settlers and organise a militia to protect their Takata Pora, the southern term for Europeans, from the northerners.
The concept that Maori were and are a homogeneous nation with a united world view is the sort of institutionalised racism that has caused many of the problems Maori face today.
I would have expected the editor of Southland's paper to champion our world view as we are and always have been unique.
Guy Fawkes should remain as a reminder of the Protestant, Catholic silliness that brought many of our ancestors to Nui Tireni/New Zealand.
MARTIN MCCULLY
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers