Maori activist promises 'action' over flagpole auction

Ngapuhi activist David Rankin has promised that there will be ‘action taken’ over plans to auction a remnant of the flagpole cut down by his ancestor, Hone Heke, in 1845.

The auction of the piece of wood, with a silver plaque claiming it was part of the famous flagpole, has incensed Rankin and his hapu, who claim that the flagpole was taken by Heke and his troops, meaning that this item must have been stolen from the whanau at some point.

“What concerns us most is the arrogance”, says Mr. Rankin. “This is a piece of our whanau’s history, and Dunbar Sloan have not consulted us, or even checked to determine its ownership prior to 1900”.

Mr. Rankin is keeping tight-lipped on the details of the action he intends to take. “I’m not giving anything away”, he says, “but we will make sure Dunbar Sloan and any potential purchasers of this relic fully understand the consequences of trading our whanau’s history”.

The Auction is due to start on Monday 6 April at 6pm.

ENDS

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