Maori side of the story to be told at controversial Otahuhu monument

The Nixon Monument memorial will remain in Otahuhu. Photo / Supplied

A petition to move the controversial monument commemorating Colonel Marmaduke George Nixon has been dropped on the provision that Māori involvement in the battle is also recognised at the site.

Shane Te Pou, a community activist and a former Labour Party official, said he had spoken to Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and they had agreed the monument would remain in Otahuhu.

However, he said formal recognition at the Nixon Memorial would be made in regards to the Māori (Rangiaowhia) telling their story, which was how Māori were pursued as prey and how many, including woman and children, lost their lives during the settler invasion of the Waikato in the 1860s.

Te Pou said he thought it was "a reasonable and just outcome" and that the aim of the petition was to provide educational context at the site.

He said it would give Rangiaowhia the chance to tell their story in a way they were happy with.

It had not yet been decided what the educational context would look like but options included a plaque or a memorial.

"I understand both hapu and descendants of Nixon are happy with this and I will make sure that they are involved."

Te Pou launched a petition last week to move the Nixon Memorial to a museum because he did not believe it fairly represented what happened and Goff responded that he was not opposed to telling the other side of the story if the community wanted it.

Te Pou said he was happy with the outcome and ready to move on to his next project.

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