Maori Leader Says Book’s Head Claims “Cultural Defamation”

Maori Leader Says Book’s Head Claims “Cultural Defamation”
 
Controversial Ngapuhi leader David Rankin – an expert in the cultural practice of mokomokai (shrunken heads) – has hit out at a new book which details the sale of Maori shrunken heads in the 1820s.
 
Paul Moon’s A Savage Country discusses the selling of shrunken heads in the 1820s, and alleges that Maori were sometimes eager to sell these taonga.
 
“Our ancestors were forced to sell these heads,” says Mr. Rankin.  “Paul Moon is wrong to say that they sold them willingly.  This is a case of cultural defamation and it needs to be stopped.”
 
“This is another example of Pakeha re-writing and demonising Maori history to make us appear like a primitive race,” says Mr. Rankin.
 
Mr Rankin previously led the campaign to have Kaikohe’s name changed to its original title of Opango – a name which relates to the shrinking and preparation of human heads:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Kaikohe-name-change-will-lift-the-self-esteem-of-young-people/tabid/423/articleID/127759/Default.aspx
 
He has also worked on cultural exhibitions at Te Papa and overseas:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0302/S00141.htm

ENDS

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