Brash’s Ma¯ ori claims slammed
Former Nats leader says British Government ‘meddling’ in NZ
Aleading historian says Don Brash is being “extremely unhelpful” in questioning the accuracy of British statements of regret over the death of Ma¯ori in their first encounters with James Cook.
Brash, the former Act and National Party leader, said British High Commissioner Laura Clarke should to be recalled to London over what he called “factually incorrect meddling”.
Clarke made statements of regret on behalf of the British Government at two ceremonies for the death of nine Ma¯ ori killed during Cook’s first landing in New Zealand in October 1769.
The statements were made to iwi Nga¯ti Oneone and then to the Tu¯ranga iwi Ngai Ta¯manuhiri, Rongowhakaata and Te Aitanga a Ma¯haki.
Brash accused Clarke of getting involved in New Zealand race relations and meddling in the “politicised” 250-year anniversary commemorations of Cook’s arrival.
He called for her to be withdrawn from her post.
“She acknowledged Cook’s regret over the deaths but inflated the death toll to nine without acknowledging that he recorded in his diary four or five deaths at Gisborne,” he said. “Unwittingly, the British High Commissioner sided with activists and helped them score a major propaganda point.”
Historian Dame Anne Salmond said there was uncertainty about what happened when Cook arrived and that witnesses had disagreed.
She said it was generally agreed nine people had been shot, at least four or five fatally, but it was not clear how many of the others were killed.
“Trying to make this a simple matter is extremely unhelpful, which is what Don Brash is trying to do because the fact of the matter is the accounts themselves are confused about how many people died,” she said.
“When you’re shooting people with muskets you can’t necessarily see who’s dead and who’s not.
“My experience of working with tribal historians on this is that they know the information extremely well.”
The High Commission declined to comment.
Requests for comment from iwi were not been returned.
The Tuia250 events marking 250 years since Cook’s arrival have been marked by controversy.
The iwi that hosted the British Government has refused to take part in a welcome for a replica of Cook’s Endeavour.
The northern iwi of Nga¯ti Kahu also opposed the Endeavour docking at Mangonui in the Far North.
Brash said the events had become “politicised with racist allegations against Cook” and the British Government needed to butt out.
A former Reserve Bank Governor, Brash now leads the Hobson’s Pledge group, which campaigns against “race-based discrimination” under the Treaty of Waitangi.
Trying to make this a simple matter is extremely unhelpful, which is what Don Brash is trying to do. Dame Anne Salmond