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New Zealand to commemorate blood shed in colonial wars

Xinhua, October 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

New Zealand's indigenous Maori on Monday named a national day to commemorate the 19th Century wars fought against the Britain and its colonial settlers.

Representatives of New Zealand battle sites around the country had supported a set of resolutions that would see a dedicated commemoration day established next year on Oct. 28, said Rahui Papa, chairman of the Waikato-Tainui tribal executive, based in the upper North Island.

The decision had been debated and discussed for years and the government had announced its support of the initiative in August, Papa said in a statement.

The British Crown signed a treaty with the Maori tribal chiefs in 1840, promising to respect the lands and rights of the indigenous people, but a series of battles in the ensuing years saw vast tracts of land confiscated and turned over to colonists.

Over the last two decades, successive governments have negotiated settlements of reparation with various tribal groups, but resentment has continued at the lack of recognition of what were once known as the "Maori Wars," but are now known as the "Land Wars" or the "New Zealand Wars."

"There are still some aspirations to achieve, including putting it into the New Zealand (school) curriculum and perhaps stronger recognition like a statutory Commemoration Day," said Papa.

"The discussions will continue. We must face up to the happenings of the past to prepare all of Aotearoa-New Zealand for a brighter, more unified future."

Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell welcomed the announcement of an annual Raa Maumahara National Day of Commemoration.

"I'm looking forward to the commemoration because it will give our nation the opportunity to learn a part of our history that has been silent for too long," Flavell said in a statement.

"Raa Maumahara is a sign of our maturity as a nation that we know our history -- good and bad," he said.

"These battles shaped our country and its people. We lost more than 2,750 lives during the wars and it's time we honor them in a similar way that we honor those who died overseas," said Flavell, referring to the honors accorded to New Zealanders who died in the two world wars and other wars abroad. Endit