Today, it is right to reflect on that history, a shared and troublesome history, and to record it in this House. For generations, Ngāti Maru cultivated the fertile land on the Waitara River flats and utilised resources from the forests, rivers, and wetlands. Because of their inland location, Ngāti Maru had limited contact with Europeans in the 1840s and 1850s, and were not involved in the Crown's land dealings which led to the outbreak of war in Taranaki in 1860. Nor were they involved in the subsequent fighting. Their involvement was limited to providing refuge to Wiremu Kīngi Te Rangitāke, in accordance with the requirements of whanaungatanga. 