The apology by the British High Commissioner for the killing of Gisborne Maori by Captain Cook in 1769 was simply a gesture of goodwill not political appeasement as claimed by B. Johnson (The Weekend Sun letters, October 11).

Maori who are protesting the honouring of Captain Cook are simply pointing out that the British colonisation of New Zealand provided both advantages and disadvantages for Maori.

Reputable historians (Keith Sinclair) reject Mr Johnson's claim that without colonisation Maori would have exterminated themselves, and say that the disaster of the Maori musket wars was halted by Maori wisdom not colonisation.

Deaths from tribal war atrocities were trivial compared with the Christian Crusades which killed over one million innocent people.

Finally Mr Johnson produces no evidence supporting his accusation of Maori separatist demands. This is a false accusation which is probably a breach of The Human Rights Act.

Maori do not want their own separate government. They simply want what was promised in the Treaty, a fair partnership with government, and control of their own affairs.

Peter Dey, Welcome Bay