Nunuku's Law of Peace

Laws are important, Nunuku thought so to, so he made a law, here is a write up of it.

Nunuku, a chief, saw that there was a lot of fighting among the tribes of Rekohu. He then called for a stop to the war, and killing, so he made a law, that wouldn’t allow people to draw blood from another person, but they would still be able to fight. All the Rekohu chiefs agreed to this.

  

Even though they had a good reason for the no fighting law, there was some bad effects from it. In 1835, Rekohu, was invaded by some tribes of New Zealand, so all the chiefs gathered together and discussed what to do. Then they decided, after a long discussion,that they wouldn’t fight, because they didn’t want to disobey/break Nunuku’s law. They also decided that they would not only, not fight the invaders, but share their land with them. Over two hundred Morioris were killed, the people who survived, became slaves, or died in custody.

In 1870, the native land court, awarded, 97.3 percent, of the land of Rekohu, to Ngati Mutunga. The Moriori were only given 2.7. Then, in 1988, the Moriori seeked for their land, fishing authority, and the recognition of their identity,and of their culture. 2001, was when Hokotehi Moriori Trust was notified to represent all Moriori people.  Then, in 2004, Moriori got back their fishing rights, by the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission. A year after, on the 21st of January, Kopinga Marae was opened by Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand. In 2008, Hokotehi and the Crown set up a $6 million trust fund to help rebuild Moriori culture and identity.

These are the reasons why laws are important.

By: Estelle