New Zealand: UK expresses 'regret' over Maori killings after Captain Cook's arrival
The High Commission was careful to point out that the expression of regret came from the UK government and not from the Queen.
Wednesday 2 October 2019 09:24, UK
The UK government has expressed "regret" that British explorers killed some of the first indigenous Maori people they met in New Zealand 250 years ago - but has stopped short of a full apology.
The British High Commissioner to New Zealand, Laura Clarke, met Maori tribal leaders in the country's North Island to mark the anniversary of Captain James Cook arriving on his ship Endeavour in 1769.
Ms Clarke's words held historic significance but were not the full apology that some had sought from the Royal Family.
Soon after Cook and his crew arrived in New Zealand, sailors feared they were under attack after encountering Maori armed with weapons.
Many experts now believe the Maori were likely only issuing a ceremonial challenge.
The sailors shot and killed an important leader, Te Maro, and killed eight more Maori over the following days before a Tahitian priest managed to mediate between the sides.
The British High Commission said the exact wording of Ms Clarke's speech to Maori leaders on Wednesday in the town of Gisborne would remain private.
However she would acknowledge the pain of those first encounters and extend her sympathy to the descendants of those killed, it said.
The High Commission was careful to point out that the expression of regret came from the British government and not from the Queen.
A High Commission spokesman said: "The expression of regret responds to a request from the local iwi (tribe) for this history to be heard and acknowledged.
"The British High Commissioner will acknowledge the pain of those first encounters, acknowledge that the pain does not diminish over time, and extend her sympathy to the descendants of those killed.
"It is not how any of us would have wanted those first encounters to have transpired."
The UK has also been returning some historic artefacts taken by Cook's crew, including canoe paddles.
Earlier this month it was reported that a replica of Endeavour had been banned from docking at a village in New Zealand after an outcry from the local Maori community.
The ship was due to visit Mangonui, in the North Island, but the Ministry for Culture and Heritage reportedly cancelled the stop after complaints from indigenous figures.
In a Facebook video, the Maori "iwi" Rongowhakaata described the 1769 encounter with British explorers in blunt terms, saying: "After only being here for two hours, Cook and his crew had trespassed, terrorised, killed and stolen from us."
New Zealand's race relations commissioner Meng Foon said that while serving as Gisborne mayor he invited the Royal Family to come to Wednesday's event, but received no response.
He said he would like to have descendants of Queen Victoria meet with descendants of the Maori who were killed and offer them a full apology.
"It's not the end of the story," he added. "I believe future generations will demand an apology."