Boyd Remembrance December 2009 - March 2010
The Boyd saga was one of the earliest major maritime conflicts between Maori and Pakeha that strained the fledging relationship between two cultures. It raised the profile of New Zealand on the international scene and may have altered the direction of New Zealand history.
The circumstances leading up to the sinking of the Boyd (a merchant ship) and the killing of nearly all of its crew and the “reprisal killing” of innocent people the following year are still the subject of much debate and discussion today.
In December 2009 the Whangaroa Community will be staging a Remembrance event marking the 200th anniversary of the so called “Boyd Incident”. This incident occurred in the Whangaroa harbour, north of the Bay of Islands in Northland, New Zealand in 1809.
In March 2010 we hope to stage another Remembrance event in the Bay of Islands to acknowledge Te Pahi and his people, who were attacked and killed supposedly for their involvement in the Boyd incident. These tragic events resulted in the deaths of over 200 people both Maori and Pakeha.
It is hoped that these two events will be part of a healing process for all the descendants and the Whangaroa community. It will also provide an opportunity to consider Maori/Pakeha relationships 200 years on.
The first event will be at Whangaroa over the weekend of the 5 and 6 of December 2009. It will begin with a formal powhiri on Friday 4, followed by a memorial service and hakari (feast) with formal speeches and activities on the Saturday 5. It will conclude with an interdenominational religious service on Sunday 6. The second event in the Bay of Islands is still being finalized.
Both remembrances will also involve the participation of regional, nation and international organisations and representatives.
Terry Smith
Chairperson
Boyd Remembrance 2009 Committee
Communications
Denis and Melanie Winters