March 31, 2015
Flag could help healing
One of the people who pushed for the return of a Hauhau battle flag from a Scottish museum says its repatriation should help iwi round Wairoa to heal the past.
The Scottish Borders Council has agreed to a request to return the flag from Hawick museum, where it has been since 1921, to Wairoa Museum.
It was captured at the Battle of Omaruhakeke on Christmas Day 1865.
Mere Whaanga, whose great great grandfather Ihaka Whaanga was injured in the battle, says the Pai Marire-Crown conflict greatly divided the area, with whanau fighting on both sides.
The iwi, which is in the middle of the treaty settlement process, tried to address that last year through and a truth and reconciliation hui.
Dr Whaanga says finding out about the flag so soon after the truth and reconciliation hui is seen as a positive tohu by people in the area.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR MERE WHAANGA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast/x_podlink/Mjc2Njg=/
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