How to remember Land Wars?

Commemorating the NZ Land Wars (1845-72) on October 28 faces many challenges. (TDN editorial, Sept 8, ‘‘Time to fix the gap in our history.’’)

While historians agree that the Crown disingenuously used the Land Wars to illegally confiscate massive tracts of Ma¯ ori land, these wars were not straightforward.

For example, several prominent iwi (including the largest iwi), Nga puhi, Ngati Porou and Arawa sided with the Crown against the warring Ma¯ ori (who fought to defend their land).

The loyal Ma¯ ori were called kupapa, and there’s a memorial on Marsland Hill in NP honouring them to the chagrin of many. So the Land Wars don’t even have clear enemies. Given it’s taken years to make Waitangi Day work, are we ready to celebrate our fractious civil wars? The Land Wars don’t even have an obvious location or landmark.

Some suggestions are Parihaka (though technically the invasion in 1881 was after the Land Wars), ‘‘Rewi’s Last Stand’’ at Orakau 1864 and Gate Pa 1864 where Ma¯ ori defeated the might of the Crown in 1864. I can’t see the Land Wars commemoration having credence unless it becomes a national holiday, with the Prime Minister giving it gravitas.

I agree with the TDN editorial, there needs to be a plaque in Parliament’s debating chamber acknowledging the NZ Land Wars. And this complex history, along with the Musket Wars (1807-42), where 20,000 Ma¯ ori were killed, also needs to be part of our school curriculum. Bryan Vickery, New Plymouth