Historian’s report on colonial figures delayed
A warts-and-all historical account of key figures – including Captain Hamilton – is tipped to intensify calls for Hamilton to confront its colonial past.
Hamilton City Council commissioned acclaimed historian Vincent O’Malley to write the report back in September 2019 amid growing angst about how council recognises colonial figures in the city.
Former Hamilton mayor Andrew King pushed for the $10,000 report to be written during his mayoral tenure and is now questioning why the council has delayed releasing its findings.
On Friday, the council hurriedly removed a bronze statue of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton from public display following threats by Huntly kauma¯ tua Taitimu Maipi to tear down the monument.
O’Malley’s report, which was co-funded by city ratepayers and Waikato-Tainui, includes historical accounts of Captain Hamilton, Sir George Grey, Gustavus Ferdinand von Tempsky and John Bryce. A draft report was completed in March although O’Malley submitted earlier progress reports.
King said the report was a response to growing disquiet about how colonial figures were depicted in city monuments and the names of streets and parks. O’Malley’s brief was to provide a high-level report relating to issues of cultural sensitivity with the names of council-controlled sites.
King said he wanted the city to have an informed discussion about its colonial past following Maipi’s first attack on the Captain Hamilton statue in 2018.
As mayor, King also advocated for the council to change its name to Kirikiriroa City Council but failed to win the support of elected members. He’s disappointed O’Malley’s report has yet to be made public.
‘‘When I was bringing this stuff forward I was a lone voice,’’ King said.
‘‘It was very, very difficult for me to be driving the discussion on the name Kirikiriroa, and on these offensive names, and on the [Captain Hamilton] statue, but I could see what was coming and it was clear what was coming.
‘‘It’s also interesting that everyone’s got such a strong opinion now and two years ago, when I could see that trouble was coming, no one wanted to listen.’’
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said O’Malley was due to present his report at a joint Waikato-Tainui-Hamilton City Council meeting on April 3 but the meeting was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Southgate said it’s important Waikato-Tainui are given the opportunity to view O’Malley’s report first, given they helped fund it, ahead of its public release.
A new meeting date has yet to be set.
‘‘A lot of things during Covid didn’t progress because we were doing only the most urgent work,’’ Southgate said.
‘‘The report has not been forgotten and it will form part of the conversation that we have with the public.
‘‘Obviously what’s going on in
Hamilton, in New Zealand and around the globe, means that we should have that conversation sooner rather than later.’’
O’Malley’s report is expected to be made public at a future meeting of the council’s community committee.
Senior councillor Martin Gallagher declined to comment on the council’s decision to remove the Captain Hamilton statue from Civic Square, saying he would reserve his questions and comments for the debating chamber.
Gallagher said King was one of Hamilton’s ‘‘most progressive mayors’’. However, elected members’ decision not to back King’s call to rename the city council did not represent a missed opportunity.
‘‘Any name change, in terms of the English language version, you have to bring a community with you. I certainly perceived the community was not supportive of that name change,’’ Gallagher said. ‘‘What I want to see is a respectful, democratic discussion in the community around all these issues. Obviously the [O’Malley] report, which we are waiting for, will assist in that discussion.’’