Erasing our history

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Once again Gisborne has chosen to ignore the anniversary of Cook’s landing here.

Are we the town that wants to erase history? Or rather the bits that don’t suit some people?

Certain repressive societies around the world have attempted this, and some are still trying to shape their own distorted view of history even as they pay the price of not learning from the past.

Shame on all who would expunge the Cook landing from our local and national history. Shame on those who would rather pretend it never happened.

Shame on those who would write Cook out of schools’ lessons and our history books.

All of humanity’s achievements and misdeeds lie in the past and for better or worse, cannot be undone.

No one should try to erase the past from memory — it is what shaped the world of today, a heritage that is both splendid and sordid, and a warning to work for a better future.

1769 and the people involved are recognised worldwide — we don’t get a choice about this — it is a story that comes, unwanted warts and all.

Next year is the 255th landing anniversary.

Roger Handford