The Rogers Rabbits brief editorial on the recent celebration of The Battle of Gate Pa, and some people's reaction to it, was timely to say the least.

Coupled with the usual nauseous and negative comments of R Paterson (‘Overkill on Gate Pa battle?', The Weekend Sun, May 2) and to a lesser degree Brian Monk (‘The other side of the story', The Weekend Sun, May 2), it highlights the gulf between ‘history' and the truth. It is true to say, there are two sides to a story. There can never be two sides to the truth.

Paterson claims it was Maori who were the insurgents, however the British were guilty of altering the terms of the treaty.

This ‘tinkering' led to discontent, and subsequent massive land seizure.

The Holy Covenant sold to Maori, was anything but.

There must have been fault on both sides, but the British, and those that followed, must bear the responsibility of the duty of care the treaty gave them.

Constantly whinging about the progress we are making will serve no one.

Robin Bell, Omanawa.