A new page in Taranaki history

ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News

SIGN UP: Prime Minister John Key, right, and Minister of Maori Affairs Pita Sharples signed an historic terms of negotiation agreement with Te Atiawa at Owae Marae in Waitara on Wednesday.

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The slow, deep beat of a military drum yesterday sounded the beginning of a new era for Taranaki Maori just as it once accompanied their destruction.

At Waitara's Owae Marae, Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Chris Finlayson yesterday signed the documents that will allow negotiations with Te Atiawa iwi leaders to right the wrongs of 150 years ago.

Just an hour before, the prime minister had seen for himself some of the reasons for Te Atiawa's grievances when he opened Puke Ariki's Taranaki War exhibition in New Plymouth.

Both ceremonies were accompanied by a mournfully slow beat on a century-old military drum of sombre significance to Taranaki Maori.

"That drum was given to my grandmother. She was the leader of the poi in Parihaka," said Te Atiawa elder Tiki Raumati.

"They used that drum in the military and I will say we turned it around on them and drummed them out with peace and love."

But before the love came the cannon, the weapon Te Atiawa iwi leader Grant Knuckey held responsible for his people's subjugation more than a century ago.

In recognition of this, a miniature cannon adorned the signing table at the sweltering meeting house on Owae Marae.

The cannon and other taonga were later given to Mr Finlayson in the hope they would be returned when a final settlement was made, Mr Knuckey said.

Wearing a green tie in honour of his wife's Irish heritage, Mr Key acknowledged the invasion and confiscation of Te Atiawa land had been unlawful.

National's goal was to reach an agreement with the tribe that would remove that grievance.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Mr Key was able to raise a chuckle.

"Negotiating a settlement will be a challenging task. I expect that you will push the Crown to be generous in its approach," he said, pausing for effect. "Good luck with Bill English."

For tribal elder George Watson, the ceremony was something his tribe had been working towards for decades.

"I wouldn't say a weight is lifted. It's more an easing of the impatience we [Te Atiawa] have been having for the last 70 years. We want to get this done, lay it to rest," he said.

For kaumatua Te Aramau Te Roto, the signatures of the government and those of his iwi went only some way to healing the 150-year-old wound.

"I'm still angry over the treatment of our people that affects me in my relationship to my tipuna [ancestors]. There is still that feeling within one that I'm not really happy with what happened to our people," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News