Speaking of invasions...

For some time I have read, with interest, the regular column of Anahera HerbertGraves, and find them extraordinary. It aspires to give an unbiased account of Ma¯ ori events, ideas and thoughts. Unfortunately, a number are not unbiased.

Take, for example, the latest column. She quotes Tina Ngata, who says that “The language is used by the colonising culture as a tool to mask and minimise colonial crime while demonising indigenous resistance... that an armed military vessel arriving without invitation to claim lands, killing people while doing so, is actually an invasion.”

Herbert-Graves then goes on to say, “Many people still struggle to recognise Cook as an invading white supremacist.” Remarkable.

As JA Mackay states in his book ‘Historic Poverty Bay,’ Cook was on one of his voyages of discovery (as directed by the British Admiralty) as well as observing the transit of Venus (which he did on the Coromandel Peninsula). When his ship Endeavour entered Poverty Bay, in October 1769, despite friendly overtures, he was forced to take armed marines with him because the local

Ma¯ ori, on more than one occasion, stole goods and then responded with armed threats when the marines had to open fire to stop their threatening advance.

So, after two days of fruitless search for fresh water, plus the hostility of the local people, Cook sailed to Anaura Bay, to be welcomed by friendly people who showed him where good fresh water could be taken.

Cook landed at various places around New Zealand to be warmly welcomed, so where does Herbert-Graves get the idea that he was an invading white supremacist? What does she say about the burning of the Boyd in Whangaroa Harbour by the local Ma¯ ori?

Cook never claimed sovereignty of