Associate Professor Richard Walter, I agree with the Wairau Bar historical body
count of 44 individuals but am concerned that 53 are being reburied this
Thursday, 16th April, 2009 at the Wairau Bar. The numbers don’t stack up. More
are being buried than were dug up. The explanation can only be a deal between
the Canterbury Museum, the Rangitane leadership and Otago University to mix in
“unwanted” human remains with those of our founding population and the most
important ancient bones in New Zealand. Taking other people’s ancestors
similarly makes thieves of the Rangitane iwi, who claim that their ancestors
were “stolen” from them. What a bitter irony this is, making a mockery of the
reburial ceremonies that will take place this week and fools of the
participants who are going along in good faith.
I have written or spoken to several concerned authorities including the NZ
Historic Places Trust and have had no response. The Chairman of the
Canterbury Museum Trust Board knew nothing about my letters/emails when I asked
him about the issue but he did apologise for the rudeness of Professor Walters.
It’s bad enough that we are effectively destroying the unique remains of our
first people to “validate the identity of Rangitane to be a unique and distinct
cultural group” as quoted in The Press this Saturday, but consider the
confusion future scientists will feel if the bones are ever dug up again. It
also makes the results of any scientific studies untrustworthy and the money
poured into this tragic event another waste of taxpayer’s money. Our
descendants will surely regret that we allowed the reburial to happen. My next
letter will be the Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research of Otago University to ask
why their preliminary report states that only 41 tupuna were studied.
We are burying 53 of our ancestors. Yeah right!