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Britain
Britain expresses ‘regret' for killing Maori 250 years ago
2019-10-02
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) ‐ The British government on Wednesday expressed "regret" that British explorers killed some of the first indigenous Maori they met 250 years ago, but stopped short of issuing a full apology.

British High Commissioner Laura Clarke met with Maori tribal leaders in the town of Gisborne as New Zealand marked the anniversary of Captain James Cook and the crew of his ship Endeavour arriving in 1769.

Clarke’s words held historic significance but fell short of the full apology that some had sought from the British royal family.

Soon after Cook and his crew arrived, the sailors feared they were under attack after encountering Maori armed with weapons. But many scholars now believe Maori were likely only issuing a ceremonial challenge.
Never come to a gunfight armed with a ceremonial challenge, amirite?
The sailors shot and killed an important leader, Te Maro, and over the following days killed eight more Maori before a Tahitian priest managed to mediate between the sides.

The British High Commission said the exact wording of Clarke’s speech to Maori leaders would remain private, but that she would acknowledge the pain of those first encounters and extend her sympathy to the descendants of those killed.

Britain has also been returning some historic artifacts taken by Cook’s crew, including canoe paddles.
Posted by:Besoeker

#17  At least they didn't eat the ones they killed unlike the Maori

And just like that, we're back to the vegetarian/long pig discussion
Posted by: SteveS   2019-10-02 21:13  

#16  ^ "They will be dug up and reprimanded. Severely!"
Posted by: Frank G   2019-10-02 18:53  

#15  "We regret the incident and assure you that all naval personal involved will be severely reprimanded."
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2019-10-02 16:17  

#14  Age of blackpowder where you shoot your smoothbore muskets first or die bleeding from from all sort of stabby wounds.
Posted by: magpie   2019-10-02 16:03  

#13  People from New Jersey, NY, Penn, Illinois, etc, don't migrate to Georgia for the grits and hoecakes.
But dang it, they bring their voting patterns with them, which is what got them to the place where they wanted to leave in the first place.
Posted by: Glenmore   2019-10-02 15:17  

#12  "But many scholars now believe Maori were likely only issuing a ceremonial challenge."
So Captain Cook's sailors should have waited until modern scholars decided that it was just a ceremonial challenge?
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2019-10-02 13:02  

#11  ^Yep, killed them for nothing!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2019-10-02 12:52  

#10  ‘regret' for killing Maori 250 years ago

At least they didn't eat the ones they killed unlike the Maori
Posted by: Mercutio   2019-10-02 12:47  

#9  1947
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2019-10-02 10:52  

#8  Peoplefrom New Jersey, NY, Penn, Illinois, etc, don't migrate to Georgia for the grits and hoecakes.

Which make them twice the fools.

When has a British government actually been remorseful over a totalitarian policy?

October, 1781.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2019-10-02 10:52  

#7  Are grits not common everywhere? They're everywhere up here in Michigan. Also, they're probably actually just regretting that they didn't finish the job. When has a British government actually been remorseful over a totalitarian policy?
Posted by: Vernal Hatrick   2019-10-02 10:13  

#6  Of all the indigenous peoples the Maori put up a really good fight and nearly fought the British to a stand-still.
Posted by: ruprecht   2019-10-02 10:11  

#5  Georgia native here. My momma raised us on grits and hoecakes. Y'all come and get some.
Posted by: jpal   2019-10-02 09:43  

#4  To welcome an immigrant cracker,
Or Shaka, or whackjob from Makkah,
Ignore those who figure
It might be a trigger,
And try a spectacular haka!
Posted by: Mismanners   2019-10-02 09:31  

#3  Not surprised at all. If a government wants your land, you'll be pushed off of it. Sometimes by the military, eminent domain, other times by excessively high property taxes and regulations.

People from New Jersey, NY, Penn, Illinois, etc, don't migrate to Georgia for the grits and hoecakes.
Posted by: Besoeker   2019-10-02 07:37  

#2  You sound surprised Besoeker.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2019-10-02 03:04  

#1  Still nothing yet on Boer War concentration camps which claimed the lives of over twenty thousand, not counting tens of thousands of black farm workers forced off the land as well.
Posted by: Besoeker   2019-10-02 02:48  

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