A triumph of belief over science? See www.wairaubarmystery.co.nz
Are future generations going to regret giving the remains of 53 of New
Zealand’s first people dating from the thirteenth century, back to Rangitane
for reburial on the Wairau Bar on 16th April? We do not know where they came
from or if they left descendants. Their numbers appear to be mysteriously
growing, so just who is being reburied?
Is this state sanctioned destruction of irreplaceable ancient remains linked to
Waitangi Treaty settlements? The Wairau Lagoons form part of the NZ$79.6
million settlement agreement with the 4000 members of the Kurahaupo Trust
signed on the 11th February, 2009.
The archaeologists undertaking the recent dig on the Wairau Bar were paid by
the taxpayer to find nothing. They were paid to find reburial sites with
little archaeology and any finds were a by-product. Any future research or
publications have to be sanctioned by Rangitane and the data from the study of
the human remains by Otago University is not going to be made available to
other scientists. We may never know who or where the ancient people of Wairau
Bar came from, if Rangitane choose not to tell us. Surely this is intellectual
property that belongs to all the people of New Zealand?
We are giving a small group of people pursuing their own agendas, control over
what we know and think about our founding people as well as access to their
burial place. If the origins of the Wairau Bar people prove to be in China,
Asia, India or Indonesia (even if via other Polynesian islands), surely New
Zealanders from those cultures should be consulted about the reburial and have
right of access to the burial site to pay their respects and conduct their own
religious ceremonies? Surely scientists should have access as technologies
develop to answer these questions of international interest.
Its not too late to protest and make sure this is done right.
www.wairaubarmystery.co.nz
Are future generations going to regret giving the remains of 53 of New
Zealand’s first people dating from the thirteenth century, back to Rangitane
for reburial on the Wairau Bar on 16th April? We do not know where they came
from or if they left descendants. Their numbers appear to be mysteriously
growing, so just who is being reburied?
Is this state sanctioned destruction of irreplaceable ancient remains linked to
Waitangi Treaty settlements? The Wairau Lagoons form part of the NZ$79.6
million settlement agreement with the 4000 members of the Kurahaupo Trust
signed on the 11th February, 2009.
The archaeologists undertaking the recent dig on the Wairau Bar were paid by
the taxpayer to find nothing. They were paid to find reburial sites with
little archaeology and any finds were a by-product. Any future research or
publications have to be sanctioned by Rangitane and the data from the study of
the human remains by Otago University is not going to be made available to
other scientists. We may never know who or where the ancient people of Wairau
Bar came from, if Rangitane choose not to tell us. Surely this is intellectual
property that belongs to all the people of New Zealand?
We are giving a small group of people pursuing their own agendas, control over
what we know and think about our founding people as well as access to their
burial place. If the origins of the Wairau Bar people prove to be in China,
Asia, India or Indonesia (even if via other Polynesian islands), surely New
Zealanders from those cultures should be consulted about the reburial and have
right of access to the burial site to pay their respects and conduct their own
religious ceremonies? Surely scientists should have access as technologies
develop to answer these questions of international interest.
Its not too late to protest and make sure this is done right.
www.wairaubarmystery.co.nz
