An official pardon for Tūhoe prophet and leader Rua Kēnana, who was wrongfully arrested during a raid by armed police in 1916, is one step closer after a bill to pardon him was read in Parliament for the first time today.
Rua Kēnana was wrongfully arrested during a raid in 1916 when 70 armed police invaded Maungapōhatu.
His son Toko Rua and Maipi Te Whiu were killed during gunfire exchange and other Māori and police were injured.
Charges against Kēnana were later dismissed but he was imprisoned on an earlier charge of 'moral resistance'.
The event had lasting effects on his descendants and followers of his Iharaira faith.
Today's reading of the bill follows an agreement between the Crown and Ngā Toenga o Ngā Tamariki a Iharaira me ngā Uri o Maungapōhatu Charitable Trust in September 2017 to progress a statutory pardon.
The descendants of Tuhoe prophet Rua Kenana and the Crown have agreed to a historic pardon.
This includes apologies and acknowledgements to the Trust and Rua Kēnana descendants, a declaration restoring the character, mana and reputation of Rua Kēnana and his descendants and a summary of the 1916 invasion.
Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta said the first reading is a significant milestone in the journey for Tūhoe.
"I want to acknowledge the huge commitment, drive and determination both the Crown and the trustees have shown in getting the pardon to this stage," Ms Mahuta said.
"It is important that the Crown acknowledges its actions caused lasting damage to Rua Kēnana and his descendants. The Iharaira faith went into decline after the events and never fully recovered," she said.
In 2012, the Waitangi Tribunal determined that excessive force was used in the arrest of Rua Kēnana and was unlawfully carried out as it was on a Sunday.
Ms Mahuta also acknowledged the timeliness of the first reading which coincides with the plaque unveiled this morning in the debating chamber at Parliament to commemorate the New Zealand Wars.
The commemoration comes nearly four years after a petition was delivered to Parliament by Waimarama Anderson, Leah Bell and supporters.
It was as a consequence of a visit to the site of O-Rākau that the two rangatahi of Ōtorohanga College took it upon themselves to champion a petition of 12,000 signatures to Parliament.
This petition created a groundswell of interest, publicity and conversation about the need to deepen people's understanding about the wars and conflicts within Aotearoa/New Zealand and the impact this has had on our national identity.
The move comes after demands from both teachers and students.
This morning the Government also announced that New Zealand history will be taught in our schools by 2022 .
"We still have a long way to go to raise awareness about our shared history but moments like today help us move into the future with increasing confidence," Ms Mahuta said.
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