Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 4, 2016 6:22:44 GMT 12
Taranaki Daily News 4/5/16
TERRIBLE TIMES
Frank Gaze (TDN, April 28) speaks of "those terrible times 150 years ago" and bemoans "our lack of thought about [conflicts] in the 19th" century. Well, conflicts in the 19th century began in 1800, not 1840, and a few facts and figures should help remedy "our lack of thought".
First, the years 1800-1840 were times of brutal and barbaric fighting between Maori tribes with wholesale cannibalism and slavery. A careful and conservative estimate is that there were 32,325 deaths directly attributable to this warfare in a population of about 120,000 in 1800.
In the next 40 years, the early colonial period, tribal rebellions led to the killing of about 750 Government forces, colonists and loyal Maoris, including women and children, and 2000 rebel fighters, a total of 2750. This total was exceeded in just two actions in 1821 near Auckland when Ngapuhi overwhelmed local tribes.
In World War I, about 18,000 New Zealand soldiers were killed, died of wounds or sickness and a further 41,000 were wounded but survived in a population of 1.1 million. It is not hard to work out what were the really "terrible times". For Gaze's "150 years" read "200".
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
Bay of Plenty Times 4/5/16
NAME WILL BE DISREGARDED
I do not think that Mike Lally (Letters, May 3) or Robin Bishop (Letters, April 30) need to worry too much about the name change of the Bay of Plenty polytech to the so called gifted Maori preamble.
This in time will be totally disregarded and it will become know as Technological Institute and possibly later on, for the benefit of overseas students, Western Bay of Plenty Technological Institute, or WBPTI.
Simple, straight forward and just rolls off the tongue.
Students will go for the subjects not the name.
Let’s hope the new council will show more backbone in renaming our place names.
M B
Tauranga
BROWNTON?
Tommy Wilson (Opinion, May 2) talks of the cultural footprint in his column.
Tommy, have you realised that while the European place names are being challenged by Maori, no one is attempting the reverse? There has never been any suggestion that a Maori name become anything other than what it is.
However, it does make me think of a new European moniker for our city and I have a suggestion.
Our city could be re-named Brownton in honour of Archdeacon Alfred Nesbit Brown.
Perhaps one of our churches could also take on a namechange — Brownton Abbey has a nice ring to it.
R B
Tauranga
TERRIBLE TIMES
Frank Gaze (TDN, April 28) speaks of "those terrible times 150 years ago" and bemoans "our lack of thought about [conflicts] in the 19th" century. Well, conflicts in the 19th century began in 1800, not 1840, and a few facts and figures should help remedy "our lack of thought".
First, the years 1800-1840 were times of brutal and barbaric fighting between Maori tribes with wholesale cannibalism and slavery. A careful and conservative estimate is that there were 32,325 deaths directly attributable to this warfare in a population of about 120,000 in 1800.
In the next 40 years, the early colonial period, tribal rebellions led to the killing of about 750 Government forces, colonists and loyal Maoris, including women and children, and 2000 rebel fighters, a total of 2750. This total was exceeded in just two actions in 1821 near Auckland when Ngapuhi overwhelmed local tribes.
In World War I, about 18,000 New Zealand soldiers were killed, died of wounds or sickness and a further 41,000 were wounded but survived in a population of 1.1 million. It is not hard to work out what were the really "terrible times". For Gaze's "150 years" read "200".
BRUCE MOON
Nelson
Bay of Plenty Times 4/5/16
NAME WILL BE DISREGARDED
I do not think that Mike Lally (Letters, May 3) or Robin Bishop (Letters, April 30) need to worry too much about the name change of the Bay of Plenty polytech to the so called gifted Maori preamble.
This in time will be totally disregarded and it will become know as Technological Institute and possibly later on, for the benefit of overseas students, Western Bay of Plenty Technological Institute, or WBPTI.
Simple, straight forward and just rolls off the tongue.
Students will go for the subjects not the name.
Let’s hope the new council will show more backbone in renaming our place names.
M B
Tauranga
BROWNTON?
Tommy Wilson (Opinion, May 2) talks of the cultural footprint in his column.
Tommy, have you realised that while the European place names are being challenged by Maori, no one is attempting the reverse? There has never been any suggestion that a Maori name become anything other than what it is.
However, it does make me think of a new European moniker for our city and I have a suggestion.
Our city could be re-named Brownton in honour of Archdeacon Alfred Nesbit Brown.
Perhaps one of our churches could also take on a namechange — Brownton Abbey has a nice ring to it.
R B
Tauranga