Far-reaching Effects

Te Ao Hou, September 1964, Page 35

Far-reaching Effects In the history of battles these actions were all very small affairs. The forces employed and the casualties sustained by both sides were insignificant compared with those of battles fought in other lands at the same period, such as in the American Civil War, and infinitely more so when compared with actions of the First and Second World Wars. But it is beyond doubt that economically and socially their effect has been felt throughout the past century in one way or another, economically in the opening of great areas of the country for European settlement and socially mainly in the attitude of large sections of the Maori race to the European way of life. My own view was that it was best to let the anniversaries come and go unnoticed, or, if some ceremony had to be held, that it be a commemoration and not a celebration. I had seen, on March 27, 1960, a commemoration service held on the site of the Battle of Waireka, near New Plymouth, on the 100th anniversary of that engagement and I felt that if any ceremony should be planned for the Waikato it could well follow the same form. The Waireka service was memorable for a magnificent address by the Rev. Mangatitoki Cameron, now Canon Cameron, of Auckland, but then Anglican Maori missioner at Waitara. Among other things he said: ‘Today we are one nation. We stand here to give humble tribute to men who gave their lives as dutv called them. Your reading of history may lead you to regard our forebears as rebels; mine, on the other hand, leads me to exonerate mine and lay the chief blame on yours. What profit is there in this? Those whom we would castigate are dead. Could we have done better; can we who are living do better in our day?’ To me that was both admonition and challenge. With that in mind early last year I wrote an article which was published in the ‘Auckland Star’, of the literary staff of which I am a member, suggesting to those who would choose to mark the coming anniversaries that these be simple services, not celebrations. It was with some misgivings that I read how Rangiriri planned to hold a service to be followed by a gala afternoon which included a raft race, Maori parties performing, people in period costume and all the fun of the fair. But because the Maori people of the district were participating I kept my thoughts to myself. Later, however, when attending a gathering at Turangawaewae Pa, Ngaruawahia, I was approached by a man of standing among the Waikato people who was concerned that the hundredth anniversary of Rangiriri was going to become a ‘circus’, using that word with a terse English adjective. He asked me to write a story recording the objection of Waikato elders to the whole proceedings. Newspaperman though I am, controversy among Maoris on matters such as this disturbs me greatly. However, I sought the opinion of others and found about half a dozen responsible men who supported the first. The obvious question was: Does King Koroki hold these views too? That was a most important interview because King Koroki dissociated himself from the views of the others, said he entirely approved of the action of the Rangiriri Maoris in combining with the Pakehas to honour the day and if he did not attend the commemoration himself would certainly see that someone else did on his behalf. The second century after the battles, he felt, should begin with demonstrations of harmony.