28th April 2020, marks the 250th anniversary of Cook's landing at Botany Bay. A short while later 22nd August 1770 Cook wrote in his journal;

"...I now once more hoisted English Coulers and in the Name of His Majesty King George the Third took posession of the whole Eastern Coast from … Latitude [38° South] down to this place by the Name of New South Wales together with all the Bays, Harbours Rivers and Islands situate upon the said coast..."

Cooks intentions were clear, as far as he was concerned Australia was British, and that was that. There was no consideration given to any possible pre-existing native title. Was this an unlawful land grab by Cook, a crime that has gone unpunished for two and a half centuries? Is there anything for all Australians to celebrate come 28th April next?

Just as a side, the native Maori of Aotearoa have recently been successful in having the pakaha remove several Captain Cook pigeon roosts. In Gisborne, the local council said it will "relocate" a Cook statue erected in 1969 following complaints by the local Maori community. Leaders of the Ngati Oneone tribe say historical records show that Cook’s crew shot nine of their people, killing six, they do not want monuments to a person they see as a “murderer”, and refer to Cook as “crooked Cook”.

So Paul you want to rewrite history, and propose that the present situation of occupation is based on an evil act of the past. Obviously you cannot forgive and live in unison, and the advantages that the present has brought. Learn that there have been losses in the past that have cost. I have had them also, but I do not want to grieve the losses, but live the present. The payback system is primitive thinking.

Josephus,
wharped minds don't learn, they react on not thought through emotion !

Obviously Paul, your attitudes have been corrupted by your woman.

I was questioning James Cooks actions in the Pacific on his three voyages of "discovery". Today Cook is venerated as an immortal of British history. No one can deny Cook was a great mariner, navigator, "discoverer" among many other worthy attributes. Having recently read 'The Voyages of Captain Cook', and one thing I noted in this detailed account was most places in the Pacific where Cook landed uninvited, usually resulted in the shooting of several of the local inhabitants.

Cook also went beyond his Admiralty orders in claiming the East Coast of Australia for Britain. His orders were later conveniently forgotten.

I find it interesting; when a person is accused of shooting someone, they're often reviled and condemned. Without seeking to determine the circumstances of that shooting? Was it a case of self-defense? The preservation of life?

Perhaps when Cook landed in NZ, albeit uninvited, he may've come ashore with peaceful intentions, initially seeking water & fresh produce. And the Maori people, misunderstanding his peaceful intentions, attacked Cook's party, resulting in nine being shot with six killed. A tragedy, without a doubt. The primary reason for a section of marines being onboard the Endeavour is to protect the ship and its Captain.

None of us were there. None of us can predict what was initially in Cook's mind - History seems to suggest Cook was mainly a peaceful man and only resorted to his Marine's muskets when attacked, precisely what any of us would do in similar circumstances.

Regarding the decision by the Gisborne Council to relocate Capt. Cook's statue? Well, it sounds to me to be a real nonsense, as the various councilors finish their meeting and retire back to their homes to watch TV and enjoy a drink? Had the area, remained undiscovered and unsettled, what would its future have been? Undeveloped and unsettled. Would those critics of Cook prefer some other explorer, the Dutch, Spanish, even the Portuguese to discover their land? Would any of these Nations have done any better?