April 02, 2014
Call for Orakau site protection
There were prayers at Orakau this morning, marking the third and final day of the battle 150 years ago.
More than 1000 people were on the site just south of Te Awamutu yesterday to remember the battle that marked the end of colonial military expansion into the King Country.
Kingitanga spokesperson Tukoroirangi Morgan told yesterday’s hui that a garrison of just 300 drawn from a large number of tribes faced the full might of the Imperial British army in defence of their liberty.
He said the commemoration was only possible because of the support of the pakeha farmer who has helped to preserve the area on his farm at a personal cost.
Mr Morgan says if the Government is prepared to spend tens of millions of dollars to mark the centenary of World War I, it should also be prepared to invest in memorials for the wars fought on New Zealand soil.
Prime Minister John Key says there is a "reasonable case" for the Orakau site to come into public ownership.
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