I note that David Rankin, leader of Ngapuhi's Matarahurahu hapu has uplifted the bones of his ancestor Hone Heke from Pakaraka in the far north. He said that lots of people would have liked to protest about the two land development projects but we removed the bones and therefore removed the problem. Presumably David or his hapu has a vested interest in developing the land. It is not the first time the bones have been shifted. The bones, which have been blessed are now at a church in Pakaraka which was built by Heke's friend missionary Henry Williams.
How interesting to note how simple things are when there is a will to achieve a certain goal and how difficult, costly and sometimes impossible to achieve if those same things are instigated by a New Zealand citizen with no claim to be maori.
I applaud David Rankin for seeing the future as progressive and getting on with what had to be done.
Maureen J Anderson, Pyes Pa.