I was somewhat bemused to see the over-the-top push for funding the 150 Year Anniversary Celebrations of the Battle of Gate Pa with a full 2-page splurge in the media.
Like night follows day, up pops the big expenses list on behalf of yet another Charitable Trust (Pukehinahina) formed on 13 March 2013 (few details on file). As I recall, total cost was to be $480,000 but looking at the TCC submission for funding, (the main commemoration is set to take place on 29 April 1864 – best of luck with that buddy!) interestingly the total cost now said to be $644,600 of which $475,000 is for further development to Gate Pa/Te Ranga sites.
The bulk of the rest of the cost is made up of carvings (20k) , monologues (15k), military capers(15k), administration, media (25k) strings /bands (12k), Te Papa breakfast(15k) Elms tea (5k) hakas/blessings (22k) Sebel dinner (25k) totals about $170,000 ( somewhat less than sought from TCC ratepayers). Go to TCC Annual Plan Booklet, pages 433 -444 Submission 103 for full details. Currently Gate Pa has a nice Village Green feel about it, paved, visual displays with someone's interpretation of events.
Now PCT wish to embellish the sites and no doubt further rewriting of NZ history,is involved. TECT, TCC, Bay Regional, Western Bay Councils and Ministry of Culture must insist local iwi use funds they received from over-the-top, $50 million treaty settlements to undertake this aggrandizement.

R Paterson, Matapihi.