MAORI MEMORIES
PAPA WHAWHAI (Cause of War.) (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North, lor the ‘'Times-Age.") The Taranaki land disputes beeu-.ie the heritage of Sir George Grey on his first arrival, if Britain nad tin. ;i ot>3jrved the same hesitant policy >a „u.iaing ample military assistance as was the case of America in 1914 and 1910, more than 50 per cent of ir.a lives would nave Deer, sacrificed. Tto iMgatiawas invaders did not succeed on me Ihnd in dispute, nor did trie Pakeha for many long years after them. Even now claimants among tr.i depleted tribes dispute the titles, i.i'tcr a period of bloodshed between me various tribes in Taranaki, whose only difference was the sale of land to Europeans, Governor Browne in 1859 said he would not legalise the purchase of any disputed land. Teira al once stood up and offered his land at Waitara to the Governor for sale. Governor Browne agreed to buy provided the title was clear. Wiremti King! rose up and said: "Waitara is in my hand, I will not permit its sale to the Pakeha. I will not consent —Ake —Ake —Ake (for ever, and ever, and ever.") He and his tribe arose as one and abruptly left the meeting.
The Land Purchase officer who had called that meeting concluded that Teira and his tribe had a clear right to sell Waitara. In 1860 after payment in full, the Governor tried to take possession. Wiremti Kingi’s well-armed force made organised resistance, and the Taranaki Maori war began. Kingi’s refusal to listen to reason even .Tom his own chiefs or the Governor was in a small way akin to the brute force of Hitler 80 years later. Finally Kingi and his crowd, for mutual protection, lived on Teira’s land south of the Waitara River.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1940, Page 2
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299MAORI MEMORIES Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1940, Page 2
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