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NZ anniversary: New Zealand divided over Cook's landing NZ anniversary: New Zealand divided over Cook's landing
(about 4 hours later)
New Zealand is marking a divisive anniversary - 250 years since the British explorer Captain James Cook set foot in the country. A flotilla has arrived in New Zealand commemorating the 250th anniversary of the first Europeans to set foot there.
Cook and his crew of the HMS Endeavour came to shore at Gisborne on 8 October 1769 ushering in colonial rule. British explorer Captain James Cook and the crew of the HMS Endeavour came to shore at Gisborne on 8 October 1769 ushering in colonial rule.
But New Zealand - or Aotearoa in Maori - had been populated by the Maori people for several hundred years. Several days of events are taking place to mark the milestone date.
Some say this milestone should not be celebrated as it had a detrimental impact on the Maori community. But New Zealand had been populated by the Maori people for hundreds of years, and many say it is not an anniversary to celebrate.
Last week British High Commissioner Laura Clarke delivered a statement of regret to local tribes - known as iwi - over the death of nine indigenous people during the first meeting between Cook and the Maori. But she stopped short of issuing an apology.Last week British High Commissioner Laura Clarke delivered a statement of regret to local tribes - known as iwi - over the death of nine indigenous people during the first meeting between Cook and the Maori. But she stopped short of issuing an apology.
Though James Cook's exploration of New Zealand dominates history books, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first European to catch sight of it, in 1642. Maori people from Polynesian islands are believed to have arrived in New Zealand - or Aotearoa in Maori - hundreds of years prior to the first Europeans.
Maori people from Polynesian islands are believed to have arrived in New Zealand hundreds of years prior to the first Europeans. Who was Captain Cook?
What celebrations are planned? Capt Cook had been sent on a mission from the UK to find and map what people at the time believed must be a large continent in the Pacific, south of Australia.
He didn't find the mythical continent, but on 6 October his cabin boy, Nicholas Young, spotted New Zealand.
The crew - including a Tahitian chief and navigator called Tupaia who helped Cook communicate with the Maori - came ashore at Tuuranga-nui, now Gisborne, on the east coast of North Island two days later.
Cook went on to sail and chart much of the coast of New Zealand, stopping at several places and establishing relations with Maori residents.
He also claimed possession of two areas in the name of the British crown, starting the process of colonisation.
Though James Cook's exploration of New Zealand dominates history books, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first European to catch sight of it, in 1642, but he never made it to land.
What commemorations are planned?
New Zealand has planned several days of events to mark the milestone of the first meeting between Maori and Europeans.New Zealand has planned several days of events to mark the milestone of the first meeting between Maori and Europeans.
On Tuesday, a flotilla of ships including a replica of the Endeavour reached Gisborne, a city on the east coast of North Island. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had kicked off commemoration events on Saturday.
Members of Parliament Kelvin Davis and Kiritapu Allan went aboard to greet the crew. Protesters were also reportedly present in the town, which is also known by its Maori name of Turanga-nui-a-Kiwa. In a speech she called for a more open conversation about New Zealand's history, encouraging people to "imagine what it would be like to hear a story be retold, knowing that, actually, you lost an ancestor directly because of those encounters".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern kicked off commemoration events on Saturday and called for a more open conversation about New Zealand's history. She said in the past, New Zealand was "only really telling, I believe, 50% of the story, and not always telling it well".
"We were only really telling, I believe, 50% of the story, and not always telling it well," she said.
New Zealand should continue to learn and tell the full story of its past, she added.New Zealand should continue to learn and tell the full story of its past, she added.
Then on Tuesday morning, a flotilla of ships including a replica of the Endeavour reached Gisborne.
Members of Parliament Kelvin Davis and Kiritapu Allan went aboard to greet the crew. Protesters were also present in the town, which is also known by its Maori name of Turanga-nui-a-Kiwa.
Why is the anniversary controversial?Why is the anniversary controversial?
When James Cook arrived on the Turanganui River, what is now Gisborne, the first encounter between his crew and the Maori inhabitants was deadly. The first encounter between Cook's crew and the Maori inhabitants at Gisborne was deadly.
A leader of the Ngati Oneone group was immediately shot and killed after what is believed to be a misunderstanding over a ceremonial challenge. At least eight other Maori were killed.A leader of the Ngati Oneone group was immediately shot and killed after what is believed to be a misunderstanding over a ceremonial challenge. At least eight other Maori were killed.
Despite the statement of regret, many Maori rights advocates say not enough has been down to acknowledge what happened in those first few days of Cook's arrival. Despite the UK's statement of regret, many Maori rights advocates say not enough has been done to acknowledge what happened in those first few days of Cook's arrival.
"It's a commemoration or an anniversary of invasion and imperial expansion," said Tina Ngata, an indigenous rights advocate who has been leading the opposition to the commemoration events.
Protesters also say their Maori ancestors were treated unfairly during the colonial era and that today, Maori communities face disproportionate levels of poverty, crime and discrimination as a result.Protesters also say their Maori ancestors were treated unfairly during the colonial era and that today, Maori communities face disproportionate levels of poverty, crime and discrimination as a result.
In Gisborne, a statue of Cook has been repeatedly defaced with graffiti and is to be replaced.In Gisborne, a statue of Cook has been repeatedly defaced with graffiti and is to be replaced.
Celebration and protest
Phil Mercer, BBC News, Gisborne
Crowds were up at sunrise to watch as the replica of Cook's Endeavour sailed through Poverty Bay, or Taranganui-a-kiwa.
"We are here to celebrate Captain James Cook and everything that he did and he represents our heritage of which we are very proud," said Val McGreevy, a Gisborne resident.
But here in Gisborne, the anniversary of Cook's landing has been a time for celebration, reflection and protest, and there was a hostile welcome from Maori groups.
They are angry that Cook's arrival has been commemorated in such a significant way.
"The fact that we have to re-live that traumatisation as a whanau hapu iwi [extended family groups and tribes] is actually quite devastating for us as Maori. Our indigenous rights have been breached over and over again," said Marise Lent, one of the demonstrators.