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6/7/16
Jul 6, 2016 6:08:10 GMT 12
Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jul 6, 2016 6:08:10 GMT 12
Bay of Plenty Times 6/7/16
CLAIMS WRONG Peter Dey (Letters, June 29) claims that Maori were "simply trying to defend their land" at the Battle of Te Ranga.
Bay of Plenty was a battle ground — the Thames tribes, Ngapuhi, Waikato and the Arawa all taking part.
In 1842, Major Bunbury was sent to Tauranga with a view to curbing the Arawa tribes. In 1845 peace was inaugurated, and a stone inscribed "Te Maungarjongo 1845" (the peace making) was set up at Maketu. After several hundred years, peace reigned throughout the Bay of Plenty.
For Ngaiterangi and Tauranga a new era of prosperity had dawned. Unfortunately this was sacrificed when in 1864 the warmongering Ngaiterangi chief Rawhi Puhirake taunted the British demanding they come and fight him. He received no answer. He subsequently moved to Gate Pa where he got his wish, repelling the British. The next battle Te Ranga was for Maori a crushing defeat. This re-established peace in Tauranga and signalled the end of the New Zealand Wars (290,000 acres was confiscated with 240,0000 returned).
The British provided seed and help to re-establish crops. If it hadn't been for the actions of chief Rawiri Puhirake this land loss would not have occurred. R P Welcome Bay
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Post by second-class-citizen on Jul 6, 2016 11:46:31 GMT 12
Peter Dey hates facts. The old motto, never let the truth get in the way of a good maori story, is one of his MO's. I have had many arguments with him re maori privilege where he continually denies it exists, then when I give examples, he tries to justify it.
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