Headline grabber or genuine activist?

Maipi demands that HCC change Hamilton’s name back to Kirikiriroa.

The small Ma¯ ori settlement of Kirikiriroa was never co-located with the small European settlement that the British named Hamilton in line with their tradition of naming places after officers who had fallen in battle, in this case, Captain Hamilton at Gate-Pa. Ma¯ ori also had a tradition when naming places.

They had the sensible custom of making a place easier to find by naming it in a way that described their location. Kirikiriroa describes ‘‘a long stretch of gravel’’ located along the Waikato River.

So where do Maipi’s motivations really lie? He is not a Hamilton citizen, he lives in Huntly and does not speak on behalf of Tainui. He has not challenged Hunly’s name or their street names, however, there are no headlines in the media to be gained from that. What he has done is criminally damage Hamilton property, threatened to disrupt a peaceful protest, and threatened the lives of their protesters, by claiming that he would join them, armed with a tow truck and tear the statue of Captain Hamilton from the roof of the underground car park to which the statue was securely mounted.

That would collapse the roof creating a hole through which protesters could have fallen to their death. He has accused Captain Hamilton and other recognised British leaders of killing Ma¯ ori men, women, and children, of rape, pillage and taking slaves.

I wonder if he can put his hand on his heart, and claim that historically, his own hapu, never did the same to other Ma¯ ori sub-tribes. Now his photo is in the news yet again, this time supporting the argument for Hamilton City Council introducing, none democratically elected, Ma¯ ori wards.

Maipi, headline grabber or genuine activist, you be the judge.

Brian Main, Hamilton