100-year wait for criticism of colonialists

Maoris have been fighting for greater rights

An Italian account of British mistreatment of the indigenous Maoris has been published in New Zealand for the first time - more than 100 years after it was written.

The unfortunate Maori certainly have to use their wits to save themselves

Dom Vaggioli

The book, the History of New Zealand and its Inhabitants, was originally banned when it was first published in 1896.

The writer, Benedictine monk Dom Felice Vaggioli, was highly critical of the British settlers' "abominable behaviour... stripping Maori of their land", according to the a report in the New Zealand Herald.

The monk said the Maoris had been "denied justice" and had been "despicably robbed".

Maoris are demanding compensation for land taken by white settlers

"The unfortunate Maori certainly have to use their wits to save themselves from the grip of the devouring serpent," Vaggioli wrote.

"However, they will never succeed in freeing themselves from its tenacious coils, and will eventually perish forever, overcome by its brutal force."

Furious about the scathing criticism, the British Government asked the Italian Government to destroy all copies of the book soon after it was published in Italy more than 100 years ago.

Surviving copies

But a handful of copies were kept, hidden in monasteries and at the Vatican, the newspaper said.

Britain wanted to support the benign view that colonisation was a great thing for the Maori

Auckland University counsellor John Crockett

One such copy landed in the hands of New Zealander John Crockett, who trained to become a priest in Rome.

Mr Crockett, now a counsellor at Auckland University, began translating the book six years ago.

And this time, the authorities in New Zealand did not regard the book as inflammatory - in fact, they even helped fund the translation and research.

Mr Crockett told the New Zealand Herald that the book had to be quashed because it was then "potentially explosive".

"Britain wanted to support the benign view that colonisation was a great thing for the Maori," Mr Crockett said.

He said that the 1,500 fresh copies of the book would probably draw interest from universities, schools, libraries and Maori groups.