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November 17, 2013
Rangiriri event looks at nation’s stories
Waatea Team
Posted On November 17, 2013
An organizer of this week’s commemorations of the 150th anniversary of the battle of Rangiriri says it’s important to remember the events and places that created the nation.
Tom Roa from Nga Pae o Maumahara, a group which is coordinating activities around seven sites of significance in the Waikato and Taurangamoana, says many on both sides lost their lives in the 1863 battle when Kingitanga forces tried to stop Crown troops pushing further into the Waikato.
He says the commemoration will bring forward family histories from both the Pakeha and Maori sides in an attempt to make people more aware of the site’s significance.
"From these conflicts there has been a building of our nation and concepts of nationhood are important in that from these conflicts, through to the commemorations in 2014 of World War One and other nation-building matters, affect our national conscience," Mr Roa says.
He says Wednesday’s commemoration starts with dawn karakia and continues through to a commemorative lunch.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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