KING PIRIPI ANNOUNCES A" PERIOD OF WELCOMING"
The King has declared the next week is to be a period of welcoming. It was confirmed that the Commonwealth has secured the freedom of some 72 Maori from slavery in Tamora. The rescued people have never set foot in the Iwi and were born in captivity. The King will welcome them as they arrive in Hunter's Bay and following a private briefing of the leaders of various Iwi all have agreed to adopt all of the former slaves if necessary. It is believed that DNA samples will be taken from each of the 72 and compared to national DNA records created following the victory over the Seleucid to try and trace the individuals ancestral links.
The King says that he hopes this is the first of many "homecomings" for Maori slaves, around two million exist.
"Today we will welcome to their ancestoral home 72 brothers and sisters lost to their Iwi. Their Tapu unable to connect with the land their forefathers called home. Today that will be put right and they will be free, loved and cared for. We have no idea what they will know of Maori culture and traditions. It is my deep hope that despite the hardship some of them will have experienced for generations that somehow they kept them alive, a struggle every bit as worthy as that we who carried weapons fought. These are people with no Iwi, but we have shown the world we are always happy to open our Iwi's arms to all and welcome new members in should they embrace our culture and ethics. I am proud that every single one of our tribes (Iwi) have stepped forward and said unconditionally these men and women can become part of their family. This will hopefully keep the hope alive for others in forced servitude that we will come for you as and when we can."