Emotions high for arrival
Protesters made their presence felt and heard among the thousands who lined Gisborne’s beaches and port yesterday as a replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour visited as part of the commemorations to mark 250 years since the first onshore meetings between Ma¯ ori and Europeans.
With local iwi having opposed the ship’s visit and refusing to do a po¯ hiri, this was the most anticipated day of the Tuia 250 commemorations, partly because of the strong opposition to the replica coming to the area where James Cook made landfall and named as Poverty Bay.
A protest organiser, Tuta Ngarimu, said seeing the ship come up the harbour was emotional, because it was a symbol of colonisation.
More than 400 people gathered along Waikanae Beach to watch a waka-led flotilla make its way into the inner harbour, with about 50 protesters waving tino rangatiratanga flags also greeting the ship.
A karakia and interdenominational service was held from 6am, where prayers and salutations were offered for the Ma¯ ori who died when Cook and his crew landed at Turanganuia-Kiwa.
About 30 people gathered, including local iwi representatives, the British High Commissioner, Minister of Ma¯ ori Development Nanaia Mahuta and the Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy.
Nga¯ ti Oneone spokesperson and local artist Nick Tu¯ para turned down being a part of the civic ceremony. “My gut tells me to say no,” he said.
250 years after James Cook landed on Aotearoa New Zealand, the replica ship HMB Endeavour, joined by a flotilla of waka hourua, va’a tipaerua and tall ships docked in Gisborne yesterday.
The vessels rounded Tuamotu Island at 6.15am and sailed toward Te Kuri a Paoa (Young Nick’s Head) under the first golden rays of sun: thousands of people lined the city beachfront by 8am to watch the historic event.
Protest Action Turanganui-a-Kiwa were out in force to highlight the impacts of colonisation on Ma¯ ori, the Endeavour seen as a symbol of European invasion.
Dame Patsy Reddy and Tuia 250 co-chairman Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr spoke at a civic welcome ceremony highlighting the voyaging heritage of Pacific people that led to the settlement of our nation.
“Tuia 250 is a national commemoration and an opportunity for honest conversations about the past, the present and how we navigate our shared future,” said Ma¯ ori Crown Relations Minister Kelvin Davies. “The Tuia 250 Voyage is the central event in the Tuia 250 programme and it’s an honour to be part of the opening events welcoming the flotilla to our shores on this historic occasion,” he said.
The flotilla is on the Tuia 250 voyage around the country between now and December on a journey of national significance.