04/12/2022
Old warriors, veterans of the Waikato War, one of many wars during the systematic colonization of Aotearoa (New Zealand.)
Passed this day 159 years ago ( December 3 1863,) the New Zealand Settlements Act may sound innocuous – but for communities of my Māori people it had devastating, lasting consequences.
"The New Zealand Settlements Act was the primary legislative mechanism for raupatu, the sweeping land confiscations that punished Māori for defending their lives and their homes.
It was accompanied by the Suppression of Rebellion Act, passed that same day, and a strong candidate for the most draconian piece of legislation ever passed in New Zealand, including as it did provision for summary ex*****on of New Zealand citizens tried by courts martial for aiding or assisting in acts of “rebellion”.
Governor George Grey and his ministers had drawn up their confiscation plans before invading Waikato in July 1863 and, by August, had begun recruiting military settlers who were to be offered a portion of the seized lands in return for their services.
Planting military settlers on some of the confiscated lands would ensure the conquest was permanent, while the sale of the remainder on the open market would pay for the whole scheme. Māori would effectively underwrite the costs of their own suppression."
Source: O'Malley, Vincent "Remembering raupatu, a forgotten history." https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/03-12-2021/remembering-raupatu-a-forgotten-anniversary?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook =1670018356
