MEDIA STATEMENT
The Hon Tariana Turia
Maori Party Co-Leader
May 11, 2010
Scorching of Tuhoe must stop
The Maori Party wants the public to learn the facts of what happened to Tuhoe, saying this will help them understand why
the tribe is so passionate about getting back Te Urewera.
"Many New Zealanders are aware of the story of Parihaka, now it is time for this nation to learn about what the Crown
did to the children of the mist," Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said.
“Until this nation learns about the devastating impact of the Crown’s scorched earth policy on Tuhoe and the
confiscation of their land, it will never be able to appreciate the justice and equity Tuhoe is seeking.
“Generations of Tuhoe will continue to be scorched until the Crown returns their land to them.”
The Crown's 1869-1872 scorched earth campaign resulted in mass starvation and deaths in the Tuhoe nation as they were
forced to watch flames destroy their crops, shelter and land – more than 180,000 hectares of which was confiscated.
"This was an extremely hurtful period for Tuhoe and it is still very much alive in their minds today.”
ENDS