Iwi respond to British 'regret'

HEARTFELT REGRET: British High Commissioner Laura Clarke delivered an expression of regret yesterday to Ngati Oneone and Turanga iwi for the pain of the first on-shore encounters between Europeans and Maori in 1769. “On behalf of the whanau that I’ve brought with me today, I acknowledge the pain of those first encounters.” Picture by Liam Clayton

The mamae (hurt) that has been carried by Nga iwi o Turanganui a Kiwa for 250 years has finally been acknowledged by the British Government through two formal expressions of regret for the impact of Captain James Cook’s arrival here.

British High Commisioner Laura Clarke delivered the expression of regret first to Ngati Oneone at Ruatanuika, the site on Titirangi Maunga of a new pou that was unveiled on Saturday in memory of Te Maro — the first Turanga ancestor killed by crew members of the Endeavour in October 1769 — and to Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki and Ngai Tamanuhiri at Whakato Marae.

The expression of regret was made on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for the death of Te Maro, Te Rakau and seven other tipuna and the pain of that first encounter.

At an emotional ceremony at Ruatanuika, Ms Clarke said the pain did not diminish over time, and extended her sympathy to the descendants of those killed.

Those who were present sang the waiata “To aroha he karere” following the high commissioner’s statement, and saw her weep as she hugged Ngati Oneone chair Charlotte Gibson in an act of reconciliation.

Beside Ms Clarke stood her Kiwi husband and their three children as she acknowledged her “whanau” at the ceremony where many Ngati Oneone whanau were gathered.

In a statement released by Ngati Oneone after the ceremony, the iwi said nine tipuna were shot by the Endeavour’s crew from October 8-9, impacting on all iwi of Turanganui a Kiwa.

It was also said Te Maro was a leader and provider, an environmental expert, who sustained his people through the many gardens that he managed.

Following the expression of regret to Ngati Oneone, the high commissioner continued on to Whakato Marae at Manutuke to deliver the expression of regret to the Turanga iwi.

Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust chair Moera Brown said the Rongowhakaata iwi welcomed the expression of regret.

“This expression of regret is the first engagement that we have had with a foreign government which resulted in direct negotiations and the co-design of a process to recognise our shared past, to respectfully listen to each other’s first encounter narratives and agree to jointly pursue cultural, educational and trade opportunities.

It was a response to a request from the Turanga iwi and hapu for their history to be heard and acknowledged.

“It is not every day that the British Government comes to your marae and expresses regret for acts resulting in the deaths of nine of our tipuna, ancestors, the kidnapping of three young men and the theft of our taonga, flora, weaponry and artefacts.

“This is a momentous occasion that so many of our people have gathered to witness.

“We applaud the leadership and commitment shown by the British High Commissioner in issuing the expression of regret,”

Turanga iwi and hapu said in a collective statement yesterday.

They said the expression was a genuine desire of the British High Commissioner to move the relationship between the British Government and them from a relationship of mistrust, hurt and antipathy to one of rediscovery, of respectful engagement and mutual benefit.

“We also acknowledge the leadership and pragmatism of both our officials and the British High Commission officials who led these discussions.

“Laura Clarke take a bow, we applaud your leadership and commitment in issuing the expression of regret.”

Ngai Tamanuhiri chair Angus Ngarangioue said, “Lieutenant Cook did not discover Aotearoa and he was not the first maritime hero to visit our part of the world. Our tipuna were voyagers and navigators traversing Te Moananui a Kiwa, Pacific Ocean, on their own voyages of discovery and reconnection”.

At the ceremony at Ruatanuika, the high commissioner drew attention to the regret shown in Joseph Banks’ diary entry after the Endeavour’s second day at Turanganui.

Mr Banks wrote in his journal, “Thus ended the most disagreeable day my life has yet seen, black be the mark for it and heaven send that such may never return to embitter future reflection.”

In a statement released after the event, Mrs Gibson said people had been telling the iwi what was good for them under a “colonised approach or ethos”.

“It’s our time now,” she said.

“We have dreams and aspirations left by our tipuna, which we will take responsibility for now in our time.”

Nick Tupara of Ngati Oneone said the korero and histories of Turanganui-a-Kiwa were here to be heard and shared with everyone.

“I think this statement enables us here in Turanganui a Kiwa and the Tairawhiti to begin to re-state our true history, grow our dialogue and grow our community in a unified manner that has never existed before today.

“For many Ngati Oneone that have passed on, they never felt safe to talk about the others who stood on the beach back in 1769 when Cook arrived, because we lived in a ‘Cook town’.

“But now we live in a town where it is safe for us to share our history, and join alongside the rest of our community, to enjoy all the goodness that is this place we choose to call home.”

Nga iwi o Turanganui a Kiwa said they recognised that yesterday was, “one of those watershed moments” in their shared history, a moment their tohunga foresaw, a moment their elders had dreamed about, “a moment that has found its time”.

“Today is a moment to reflect, to offer regret, to seek redemption and a time to reconcile”.

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