Cook events to give ‘other side of NZ history’ says Māori minister

New Zealand’s minister for Māori-Crown relations, Kelvin Davis, has told Māori communities that their history will not be “side-lined” in events commemorating the arrival of British navigator Captain James Cook in 1769.

Davis (pictured, above), who is of Ngāpuhi heritage, said the events will provide an opportunity for Māori to tell their side of the story and the suffering inflicted by Cook and his crew.

“The first encounters in our country between Cook and Māori were not a fairy tale. As you move up and down the country, the recounting of stories–that rich history–is eye opening,” Davis said in a social media post.