Tame Iti

Moments before giving an historic apology to Tuhoe, Chris Finlayson returned a gift to Tame Iti.

The taonga was a koikoi ( sharpened stick) Iti had given to Michael Cullen, Finlayson's predecessor as the Minister for Treaty Negotiations.

The koikoi was a symbol to assist negotiations and be given back to Tuhoe once a settlement was reached with the Crown.

“I'd like to thank Tame. The koikoi did it's job,” Finlayson told the crowd at Mataatua marae in August 2014. “It gives me great pleasure to be able to return the koikoi to Tame.”

It was a small gesture on a remarkable day for Tuhoe; when the Crown admitted 170 years of injustices and recognised te mana motuhake — Tuhoe's right to determine its own future on issues such as health, housing and education.

“We're grateful it happened. We needed to hear that. We had to let go — mentally and psychologically and spiritually,” said Iti, drawing a deep breath. “We had to let it go from the puku,” he exhales loudly, “see you later . . . bye bye. You can't keep it here, it's no good for you. Hold your breath and let it go.”

Finlayson's gesture to Iti was also remarkable, more than just an acknowledgement of the activist's instrumental role in the negotiations.

Because not so long ago, Iti was the alleged mastermind of “Plan B” — an armed uprising should the negotiations with the Crown end in failure.

Tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of when masked police set up roadblocks to Ruatoki, before raiding the tiny settlement at the mouth of the