Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 14, 2016 7:25:00 GMT 12
Sunday Star Times 14/2/16
WAITANGI SHIFT
David Seymour (‘‘Time to take Waitangi on the road’’, Focus, February 7) does not seem to realise that the example of Te Hemara is a cautionary tale and not simply evidence of ‘‘remarkable trading relationships’’.
Te Hemara made his living selling land to which he often had no claim and no connection. He claimed 120,000 acres across the North Island, sold tribally owned lands until there was nothing left and took the money. These land sales left the Nga Whetu iwi in devastating poverty. His own tribe ‘‘who were left with no tribal land and no money, felt only animosity towards him’’.
The irony of someone of Ngapuhi descent struggling to understand why local Maori are protesting a trade agreement is not lost on any Kiwi who knows anything of Ngapuhi access to an unfettered international trade for muskets and the resulting slaughters during the Musket Wars.
Seymour is making an overly simplistic argument. Mark Eades, Christchurch Seymour’s novel suggestion has much merit. Why not rotate the celebrations following the signing venues of the original Treaty document? The Te Aroha and the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribes refused to sign the Treaty. Many might not know this.
Many ‘‘Treaty Sheets’’ were taken around Aotearoa; 500 Maori chiefs signed our founding document.
Protesters will be far less likely to travel to other destinations, and if Parliament implements Seymour’s suggestion in time for Waitangi Day 2017, Prime Minister John Key can attend the new location without any fear of intimidation, and hopefully he won’t have a sex toy thrown at him!
B C,
Wellington
WAITANGI SHIFT
David Seymour (‘‘Time to take Waitangi on the road’’, Focus, February 7) does not seem to realise that the example of Te Hemara is a cautionary tale and not simply evidence of ‘‘remarkable trading relationships’’.
Te Hemara made his living selling land to which he often had no claim and no connection. He claimed 120,000 acres across the North Island, sold tribally owned lands until there was nothing left and took the money. These land sales left the Nga Whetu iwi in devastating poverty. His own tribe ‘‘who were left with no tribal land and no money, felt only animosity towards him’’.
The irony of someone of Ngapuhi descent struggling to understand why local Maori are protesting a trade agreement is not lost on any Kiwi who knows anything of Ngapuhi access to an unfettered international trade for muskets and the resulting slaughters during the Musket Wars.
Seymour is making an overly simplistic argument. Mark Eades, Christchurch Seymour’s novel suggestion has much merit. Why not rotate the celebrations following the signing venues of the original Treaty document? The Te Aroha and the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribes refused to sign the Treaty. Many might not know this.
Many ‘‘Treaty Sheets’’ were taken around Aotearoa; 500 Maori chiefs signed our founding document.
Protesters will be far less likely to travel to other destinations, and if Parliament implements Seymour’s suggestion in time for Waitangi Day 2017, Prime Minister John Key can attend the new location without any fear of intimidation, and hopefully he won’t have a sex toy thrown at him!
B C,
Wellington