Here's an intriguing thought regarding the land claims made on the Chatham Islands, claims made by both the Moriori, the original population, and the invading Taranaki Maori, who were tired of their ongoing battles with neighbouring Taranaki tribes on the NZ mainland.
The colonial government held land court sessions for the purpose.
The surviving Moriori were ill-equipped to deal with such legal matters, further complicated by the new land titles.Also affected by some matter of expedience for the local colonial government.
They justified their claim by virtue of original occupation and ownership. Also by the fact that initially they had offered to share their land with the Maori for agricultural use, in exchange for rent.
When the Maori reneged on the agreement, the Moriori asked to reclaim the land.
The Maori justification for their claim on the Chathams was that it was their 'customary” right to the spoils of war, presumably as they saw themselves as the victors.
But there was never a war! How can it be war or a battle when one side refuses to engage, due to a longstanding, binding oath of pacifism, and refusal to kill? A war requires two opposing forces, two sides doing battle. The only honour here was that of the Moriori, and their destruction was a walkover. It became just an invasion, slaughter or genocide, enslavement and wholesale land grab. Shame on the Colonial government for their part, in view of all this.
Anyway, if the Maori were entitled to quote 'customary” right here, surely the same should apply to the Colonial forces. But double standards obtain. One other point : Apologies for past grievances are the order of the day. Have the Moriori ever received a public apology from the Taranaki Maori, or an offer of restitution?( Both sides now have only a diluted ancestry.) It is left in the hands of the Waitangi Tribunal.
The Maori received practically the entire territory of the Chathams, and proceeded to return to the Taranaki to reclaim the land there as well.
This subject will keep arising, though there have been many attempts to reject, ridicule or suppress it, in my experience.
D. Holm, Tauranga.