November 13, 2020
Friendly haven found for Endeavour replica
A Gisborne District Councillor says the council was forced to engage properly with iwi about the fate of two replicas of Captain Cook’s ship Endeavour that used to stand on poles above the main street.
Meredith Akuhata-Brown says in a series of consultation hui Tūranga iwi made it very clear they did not want the replicas, which were build as decorations for 1969 Cook Bicentennial celebrations, to be re-erected in their rohe.
Even then the council's operations committee split 7-7 on accepting the staff recommendations, with the chair having the casting vote.
The result is one replica will be sent to Uawa-Tolaga Bay, where the original Endeavour headed after its blood-soaked visit to Tūranga.
"Te Aitanga a Hauiti in Tolaga Bay talk of their time with Cook and particularly (Tahitian navigator) Tupaea as favourable and they would like to have one (replica) there, which makes sense. Cook's Cove, all the streets in Tolaga Bay are named after the men from the ship – Cook, Banks, Solander, so we are very grateful for them coming to our aid as a council," Ms Akuhata-Brown says.
The second replica will be offered to Tairāwhiti Museum.
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