Key did mention the war, transcript shows

UNDER FIRE: National Leader John Key has been accused of glossing over New Zealand's violent history with comments that ignore the New Zealand wars. Inset image: The Death of Von Tempsky at Te Ngutu o Te Manu, a portrayal of an incident in the New Zealand land wars by Kennett Watkins (1847-1933).

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National Leader John Key is in the wars over comments opponents say glosses over New Zealand's bloody past.

However, the full text of the interview that prompted the stoush shows Mr Key knows the history of the New Zealand Wars - a series of conflicts between 1845 and 1872 - and the subsequent confiscation of lands and land court abuses.

Mr Key said the Crown had to honour its obligations under the Treaty and put right the wrongs of the past.

Maori lost land and assets "through the Maori land wars and through the actions of the native land court around that time".

Mr Key said settlements aimed to redress some of the wrongs in the past.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen, Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Labour Party Maori Caucus have all hit out at Mr Key for saying New Zealand was unique because it had not had a civil war or a lot of internal fighting.

They said he had glossed over the wars and showed a lack of knowledge of New Zealand's history.

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bewildered   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

What's more pathetic, John Key, or that he's leading the polls? Unbelievable.

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