Protesters object as Tuia 250 ships reach capital
THE Wellington event of the Tuia 250 commemoration of the first encounters between Ma¯ ori and Pa¯ keha¯ in New Zealand has been disrupted by protesters.
The event included an appearance by a replica of James Cook’s ship the HMS Endeavour, with speeches from the city’s mayor, Andy Foster, and the Endeavour’s captain.
The Tuia 250 Voyage flotilla also includes traditional waka and the Spirit of New Zealand.
The Wellington event is the final event for the Endeavour before it heads back to Australia.
There have been calls since it was planned for the commemorations to be boycotted, highlighting atrocities committed by Cook and his crew. Far North iwi
Nga¯ ti Kahu banned the Endeavour from docking in Mangonui, and four major iwi in the Tu¯ ranganui a¯ Kiwa region around Gisborne refused to hold a po¯ whiri for the fleet.
A group of protesters used a loudspeaker to interrupt proceedings, although other people at the event repeatedly disconnected the speaker.
Wellington is the final stopping point for the Tuia 250 fleet that has been travelling around the country’s coast for two months.
Wellington iwi group Mau whenua, who are made up of descendants of Taranaki
Wha¯ nui, lit fires in protest along
Miramar peninsula, as the ship made its way into Wellington Harbour on Friday. Fires were also lit at O-Rua Iti Pa¯ , and Rangitatau Pa¯ .
Tuia 250 commemorations began with an event in
Tu¯ ranganui a Kiwa and has marked Cook’s stops in
To¯ taranui and Meretoto/Ship Cove. The final event will be in Te Ma¯ hia on the East Cape on December 17.
British High Commissioner Laura Clark made an expression of regret on behalf of the UK for the deaths Cook’s first visit to New Zealand inflicted on tangata whenua before the flotilla embarked.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co. nz and is republished with permission.