Land war memories to live on

As an important date arrives regarding Taranaki’s civil war history, plans are afoot for the region to play host for the 2019 national commemorations.

A local event to remember the conflict between Ma¯ ori and British troops, along with the lives lost in battle, began on Friday.

Since 2010, Hoani Eriwata has organised Riri me te Raukura or War and Peace.

The four day programme focuses on remembering the region’s land war history from

1860 to 1881, along with Parihaka’s passive resistance movement, led by prophets Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi.

The commemorations are expected to attract about 50 people, half of which will be attending for the first time, Eriwata said.

This number was heartening for Eriwata as it showed people were still interested in knowing about the region’s past.

‘‘It’s about learning and sharing the historical information,’’ he said.

Along with karakia and a chance to listen to guest speakers, the group will also tour three battle sites on Saturday, visiting Te Ko¯hia, Puketakauere and Te Arei.

Te Ko¯hia pa¯,on Devon Rd in Brixton, was the site were the first shots were fired in the Taranaki land wars on March 17, 1860.

The site was purchased by the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) for $715,000 in June 2016. The pa¯ was known for its innovative covered trenches, a feature first used at Ruapekapeka in the Northern War of the 1840s.

But close to two years on from the purchase, what will become of the site remains unclear.

‘‘At the moment, nothing is really happening,’’ Eriwata said.

In a written response to questions, NPDC group manager strategy Liam Hodgetts said it would work with Te Huinga Taumatua committee, which is a panel of councillors and iwi leaders, to ‘‘help shape what will occur’’ at the pa¯ site.

‘‘We have proposed funding in the 10-Year Plan 2018-28 to undertake that work,’’ Hodgetts said.

The land war conflict was not confined to Taranaki and across Aotearoa about 3000 lives, both Ma¯ ori and British, were lost.

The inaugural national day of commemoration or Raa Maumahara was held on October

28 last year.

A po¯whiri at Kairau Marae marked the official opening of Riri me te Raukura, with formalities ending at Parihaka on Monday.