Ngapuhi Leader to “end war” with Te Arawa

Ngapuhi leader and descendent of Hongi Hika, David Rankin, will be meeting with Te Arawa leaders at Hongi’s marae in Northland this Friday to end over 180 years of conflict between the two tribes.

Mr Rankin will be presenting the Te Arawa chiefs with a taonga [treasure] taken by Ngapuhi from Mokoia Island in the early nineteenth century. The taonga - a taiaha or fighting staff - known as ‘Wi Te Parahi, is widely regarded as one of the most sacred treasures held by Ngapuhi.

‘We have decided to put an end to all the hostility, and look forward to a new era of peace between our two peoples’, says Mr. Rankin. ‘I know some Ngapuhi will oppose the return of this taonga because of its value, but I want future generations of Te Arawa to know for certain that the divisions between us have been healed’. The taiaha, insured for $380,000, has been held in the Rankin family for over a century.

The event, starting at sunrise on Friday, will commence with a Te Arawa apology for the notorious ‘Hongi-Hitler’ insult made by a Te Arawa spokesman earlier this month. Over 200 of Hongi’s descendents are expected to attend.

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