Kia ora to all of the tautoko we received in recent week's letters, I was hoping we could now move on but Mr Prince is still focused on finding a crack in my korero. Believe me I have heaps. Who doesn't?
Surely this letter's lesson expose over the last few weeks is about the fact that the tragedies happened both here in Tauranga and Rangioawhia, and those of us who were born and bred here are trying to build a bridge of hope from then to now? But not so for South African born Richard Prince.
Mr Prince has not and most likely will not concede to the fact that these battles happened and the officer in charge was General Cameron.
Instead he wants to focus on dates not deaths.
For the final time the first raupo Catholic church that Pompellier taught the catholic faith to in Rangioawhia, was torched with woman and children inside it.
The Catholic Church that stands there today and the raupo thatched house that was used as a church when Bishop Pompellier brought the Catholic faith to Ngati Apakura were both built by my great grandfather Emile Joseph Borell.
Well done Mr Prince for looking on the Pirirakau website, you will have also read that I wrote the book Le Whanau that traces the history of how the Catholic faith came from France to Te Puna via the Waikato.
The word Ubuntu I used in my ‘evidence' last week to try and paint a picture of hope is a word used often by Nelson Mandela and his Xhosa tribe, and it is one you should google, to get a better insight into the real issues of injustices committed against innocent indigenous peoples.
More importantly Mr Prince, your true colours of the culture and the country you were brought up in has been exposed but in saying this I thank you as we are now all talking openly and honestly about our history that none of us living today can be blamed for.
Tommy Kapai, Te Puna.
3 comments
Embellishment and myth perpetuation perhaps?
Posted on 19-11-2012 08:42 | By RORTSCAM
Most credible NZ historians take on historical events do not seem to coincide with yours and they it must be said had no axe to grind nor any financial self interest in presenting the facts other than honestly factually and fairly.The public can be the judge as to who is credible and who is not
Axe or Facts
Posted on 19-11-2012 19:59 | By Mimi Pohara
Local Tauranga Author Trevor Bentley has written on the subject of who and how many were killed at many Maori/Crown land wars. He is of the opinion that the facts according to Maori whakapapa are far more reliable than those published by the Military. In his words the crown downplayed the true gravity of the carnage committed and this for me marries up with what Mr Wilson is saying. I dont hear any empathy or compassion toward those who were slaughtered Rortscam, just an axe of your own to grind with Maori or any who are brave enough to speak on their behalf.
History is just that -history
Posted on 20-11-2012 19:49 | By RORTSCAM
@ Mini Pohara. For your information Trevor Bentley who appears to be of polynesian descent having been born in the Islands an adult education teacher with a Phd in something called pakeha maori whatever that might be. He has written 3 books Captured by maori, Pakeha maori @ Cannibal Jack.Instead of your usual waffling vague generalizations and vitriol just direct us with proper references to where Bentley gives details of any slaughter in the maori wars and the numbers involved.
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