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A leading Ngapuhi elder is questioning the choice of October 28 as Raa Maumahara, the national day to remember those who died in the Land Wars of the 19th century.
Nuki Aldridge says that day in 1835 is when northern chiefs signed the proclamation of sovereignty known as He Whakaputanga or the Declaration of Independence
He says the decision on Raa Maumahara, made by a small group representing battle sites around the country, and done in haste by people who don’t understand the meaning and significance of He Whakaputanga.
"The northern tribes have been looking after this document over the last 200 odd years and it's about time that if they want to change anything then the rest of the country should come to the far north or the northern tribes and have an open and fair discussion about the whole thing, rather than promoting it out there without due regard to the people that kaitiaki all of these things," he says.
Nuki Aldridge says October 28 for Ngapuhi is a celebration of the living, whereas Raa Maumahara will pay respect to the dead.
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