The Maoris , A Premier and Ninety - One Pigs The meeting excited the greatest curiosity among the white population , as owing to the rapdi decay of the Maori race , such a gathering to commemorate the last great native war will soon be quite impossible . The food consisted of 2,500 baskets of potatoes and taros , a large number of dried shark , and ninety one pigs . A flag was placed in the centre of the pile of food , which was formally handed over Sir George Grey , the Premier , who returned it to be distributed amongst the Maoris . 1878