Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 20, 2016 17:10:38 GMT 12
MORIORI DESCENDANTS SEEK TREATY CLAIM FOR 19TH CENTURY ATROCITIES
"I think the most common things New Zealanders believe is that they were by and large wiped out before pakeha settlement," Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson told ONE News.
The islands were invaded by Taranaki Maori in 1835, who slaughtered and enslaved the Moriori. The atrocities continued for 20 years.
"We lost 90 per cent of our population - that's a holocaust really," Mr Solomon said.
Now, Moriori descendants are close to negotiating a Treaty settlement with the Crown, based on breaches including a failure to stop slavery.
Further grievances include when 120 Moriori left the Chatham Islands in 1870 and were granted just three per cent of the land.
Moriori did petition the government to restore land rights 150 years ago, but were unsuccessful.
Despite the Chatham Islands invasion pre-dating the Treaty of Waitangi, the Government concedes the Crown had a responsibility to act sooner.
Historian Dr Michael Bassett said there is also a more obvious reason the Crown should pay.
"I'm sure the real reason why people want the Crown to do something is that they've got the deepest pockets," he said.
The Crown-owned Whaanga Lagoon is likely to return under the settlement, while the Government hopes to have an initial deal completed by the end of this year……
www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/moriori-descendants-seek-treaty-claim-19th-century-atrocities
"I think the most common things New Zealanders believe is that they were by and large wiped out before pakeha settlement," Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson told ONE News.
The islands were invaded by Taranaki Maori in 1835, who slaughtered and enslaved the Moriori. The atrocities continued for 20 years.
"We lost 90 per cent of our population - that's a holocaust really," Mr Solomon said.
Now, Moriori descendants are close to negotiating a Treaty settlement with the Crown, based on breaches including a failure to stop slavery.
Further grievances include when 120 Moriori left the Chatham Islands in 1870 and were granted just three per cent of the land.
Moriori did petition the government to restore land rights 150 years ago, but were unsuccessful.
Despite the Chatham Islands invasion pre-dating the Treaty of Waitangi, the Government concedes the Crown had a responsibility to act sooner.
Historian Dr Michael Bassett said there is also a more obvious reason the Crown should pay.
"I'm sure the real reason why people want the Crown to do something is that they've got the deepest pockets," he said.
The Crown-owned Whaanga Lagoon is likely to return under the settlement, while the Government hopes to have an initial deal completed by the end of this year……
www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/moriori-descendants-seek-treaty-claim-19th-century-atrocities