MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1940, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

CAUSE OF WAR (PAPA). (Recorded by J.H.S., or Palmerston North for the “Times-Age.”) Before the Wairau massacre the Taranaki settlers had on two occasions armed themselves and expelled the pononga (slaves) and others who had returned to occupy the disputed lands near New Plymouth. This was done with impunity, as the Maoris had no guns. Having obtained arms, these Maoris, numbering three to one of the settlers, jeered at them, cut down all imported trees, and said they would occupy their ancestral lands until fairly paid for them.

Obviously they were right, for an unbiassed enquiry by Mr Spain, the British Commissioner, reduced the New Zealand Company’s claims of 1843 of “having fairly purchased 20.000.000 acres of country, as large as Ireland." to 281,000. of which 60,000 were in Taranaki. This award was not in compliance with Maori law, and caused a similar revolt at Manganui. with the loss of 40 lives. Nopera. a Christian chief, had sold to the Government a large block from which he had been expelled forty years before. It was stated in regard to this sale “that the British Queen had as much right to sell land in America."

Governor Fitzroy altered Mr Spain's judgment, and declared that only 3500 acres had been fairly paid for in Taranaki. This produced universal discontent among the settlers, and proved to the Maoris that superior numbers and physical force were their only hope of justice.