Te Ururoa Flavell MP for Waiariki www.waiariki.maori.nz

I was really pleased to recently attend the commemoration of the Battle of Gate Pa (Pukehinahina).

The ground shook as the haka was being performed and we arrived to the battle site.

It is hard to believe 150 years have passed since one of the most significant battles of the New Zealand Land Wars took place; since a pivotal moment in the founding of the city of Tauranga.

The day was a sombre reminder of lives lost and I must congratulate Buddy Mikaere and the Pukehinahina Charitable Trust, who undertook to not just hold a single day of commemoration but to educate the people of Tauranga about the significance of this battle by holding a series of other events the public could engage in.

There was an essay and speech competition, which I understand the local high schools participated in, an art exhibition, a lecture series, poetry competitions; and many other events were used to retell the history of this significant event. Well done to you all.

During the course of the commemoration, we visited the military memorial service at the Otamataha Mission Cemetery.

This cemetery is a sacred site, which holds the remains of both British soldiers and tangata whenua who died in the Battle of Gate Pa, and is part of the land which I'm seeking to have returned to its rightful kaitiaki by way of the New Zealand Mission Trust Board (Otamataha) Empowering Bill, my Private Members Bill, which has just passed its second reading in Parliament.

During the Maori Affairs Select Committee Hearings, the Tauranga Moana Maori Trust Board advised: 'As the result of defending their lands at the Battles of Pukehinahina and Te Ranga tangata whenua were considered rebels and vast tracts of land were confiscated by the Crown. Included in the confiscated lands was the Otamataha site”.

'The Crown, at its total discretion [indiscretion], vested the Otamataha lands in the Church Mission Society.”

So it goes without saying, more than a century later I'm pleased we are on the way to having this piece of historical whenua returned to the care of the people of Ngati Tapu, Ngai Tamarawaho and Ngai Tukairangi.

I welcome your feedback. Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz Phone 0508 924274.