History NZ Database

I’m of Maori descent and my iwi is Ngati Kuia, a small tribe from the top of the South Island – Te Tau Ihu, or the prow of Maui's canoe. In the 19th Century my ancestors were invaded, conquered, and subjugated – a common story for many iwi. However, this was not done by enemies with pale skin and red beards, it was an act of war perpetrated by foes with brown skin, who spoke the same language. Ngati Toa, a small tribe from Kawhia, had migrated south and under the leadership of their chief, Te Rauparaha, came to carve out a new empire for themselves on either side of the Cook Strait. All this happened about 15 years before the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. When Te Rauparaha did sign the Treaty, he did so in the belief it would cement his claim to his newly-conquered lands – and it has. That’s Ngati Toa’s rohe now. https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/106877783/new-zealand-we-need-to-stop-living-in-the-past

This expedition was undertaken by the Nga-Puhi tribes of Hokianga—none of the Nga-Puhi proper of the east coast joining in it–together with many of the principal chiefs of Te Roroa, a tribe, as has been shown, equally related to Nga-Puhi and to Ngati-Whatua, and whose residence is principally to the south of Hokianga Heads, and extending thence to Kaihu on the Wairoa River, Kaipara. In this expedition we find these ancient enemies combining to make war on others. “So we dwelt some time at our homes in Lower Hokianga, until after a while, we again felt a desire for man’s flesh, and the idea was conceived that we should go on a campaign against the tribes of the south. We accordingly page 98 assembled together and arranged with Hongi Hika to form an army to avenge the deaths of some of our people who had been killed by the Southern tribes on the occasion of a journey they made to procure mats in exchange for their Maori weapons. Nga-Puhi assembled at the mouth of Hokianga on the beach at...

On TVNZ’s Q+A programme on the eve of the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s landing in New Zealand, reporter Jack Tame asked the Minister of Crown-Maori Relations, Kelvin Davis, to name one good outcome of colonisation. The Minister was clearly taken aback by the question, and in spite of being asked multiple times, refused to identify a single benefit, instead arguing that we should be honouring the contribution made by Maori. It was a bizarre interview and highlighted the dangerous situation that we are now in whereby a former State School Principal, who is a senior representative of the Crown, has become so conditioned by Maori sovereignty activists that he found it impossible to outline any benefits that colonisation has brought to New Zealanders of Maori descent. Kelvin Davis should have re-read The Treaty of Waitangi written by the great Maori leader Sir Apirana Ngata, who reminds us, “The Treaty found us in the throes of cannibalism…This was at a time when the Maori trib...

In May 1822, Matakitaki Pa witnessed an invasion by Northland iwi under the Nga Puhi chief Hongi Hika. The pa, a place of refuge, was overwhelmed by Hongi Hika and his musket-bearing warriors as they laid siege to the fortified settlement. A reported 1500 people died in the battle and while escaping from the crowded pa. The carvings are the work of Maori artist James Webster and his team of carvers, developed in collaboration between Pūrekireki Marae, Te Rūnanganui o Ngati Hikairo and Waipa District Council. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/waharoa-and-pou-unveiled-at-matakitaki/7EISH7VCATKZKHGRU6DJ5UYJNM/

There was never a united New Zealand country before 1840. The descendants of the early Pacific Island migrants lived as separate tribes and were often at war with one another. This intermittent conflict culminated in the devastating Musket Wars during the early decades of the 19th century when tens of thousands of men, women and children were slaughtered. Some iwi leaders especially in Northland realized that the constant warring could doom the native peoples unless law and order was brought about. Some chiefs petitioned the British king to intervene to bring peace and unity. In 1835 there was the so called Declaration of Independence devised by British Resident James Busby. The He Tohu exhibition at the National Library in Wellington says this about the declaration: It was how rangatira (Maori leaders) told the world, back in 1835, that New Zealand was an independent Maori nation. That is nonsense – Busby wrote it; only two chiefs outside Northland signed it; it didn’t do anything and...

Framed against the outbreak of the First World War, these ships were involved in the conflict but weren’t on their way to the Northern Hemisphere. When war was declared, the nation of Samoa as we know it today was under German administration and New Zealand, being the nearest of the British Empire with enough forces, was tasked with securing the colony. It was unknown what kind of defence German Samoa would put up, and preparations for combat are evident from the presence of artillery. But the outcome was fortuitous, as the small German administration surrendered without a single shot fired. Gallipoli is remembered in the New Zealand psyche as our baptism of fire, but our first action as a nation in the First World War was invading our Pacific neighbours and despite protest holding them under New Zealand administration until 1962. https://ngataonga.org.nz/blog/nz-history/the-pacific-prepares-for-war/

Sir Apirana Ngata (Ngati Porou) delivered a strong message to Pakeha New Zealand 75 years ago this Friday, when he spoke at the 1940 Treaty Centennial celebrations at Waitangi. The original recording of his speech, outlining Maori grievances and calling for greater Pakeha understanding, is held in the radio collection of Nga Taonga Sound & Vision. The 1940 centenary marked 100 years since the signing of the Treaty and despite taking place in the midst of World War II, it was celebrated by events around the country, including the Centennial Exhibition in Wellington. Sir Apirana Ngata speech 5.40 min recorded mark; ‘What is there in the treaty that the Maori can, celebrate whole heartedly with you. Let me say one thing, throughout the treaty, Maori handed over the mana and sovereignty of New Zealand to Queen Victoria and her descendants forever. That is the outstanding fact today, but if it not for the seal of sovereignty handed over to her Majesty and her descendants, I doubt whethe...

With official recognition by Auckland University of ancient standing stones, with discovery of stone walls, carved boulders, and ancient working solar observatories, there is compelling evidence of a pre - celtic peoples inhabiting New Zealand as long as 4500 years ago. This 6 minute clip asks why is there a wall of silence on this most important part of NZ's early history? email: TurehuNZ@gmail.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLRrUNuLC4Y

Today, in response to last week’s government announcement of a $9 million compensation package for the Parihaka Papakainga Trust, deputy leader, Andy Oakley, blasted a hole in the mainstream historical account of events at Parihaka Pa in the 1870s and 1880s, bringing into question widely accepted assumptions about the relationship between Maori and Pakeha in the 19th century. https://www.rightminds.nz/articles/explosive-one-new-zealand-statement-challenges-mainstream-parihaka-narrative

Since the late 1880's, mountaineers have longed to conquer Mt Everest. The world's highest peak had continually defeated climbers, until May 29, 1953, when New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzig Norgay finally reached the summit. Following their safe descent, the duo would be crowned world heroes, and would inspire climbers for generations to come. It had taken nine British expeditions — the first in 1921 — to achieve the ultimate goal of conquering Everest." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVWqzHWZGLQ

The 1968 Inangahua earthquake struck near the small town of Inangahua Junction, New Zealand on 24 May 1968. This photo essay  by Simon Nathan is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6ak1krtiXA

Showing the broken coastline at Oaro and north of Kaikoura from near Mangamaunu up to Half Moon Bay, Ohau Point and Paparoa Point South Island, New Zealand This video was filmed on 25th December 2016 and 1st January 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VNhFRiJtrc

It would have been an incredible event to witness, if it hadn’t happened in darkness, just after midnight on the morning of November 14, 2016. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake forced a 110 kilometre stretch of the Kaikoura coast to rise up from the sea. The uplift varied, from half a metre to almost 6 metres at Wipapa Bay.. Aquatic creatures and marine vegetation which had lived mostly underwater, struggled to adapt to a terrestrial world. Especially hard hit were slow-moving species such as limpets and paua, and thousands of them perished under the summer sun. Today, it’s easy to identify areas of uplift, most platforms are covered by a carpet of green algae, commonly known as sea lettuce. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1ftQiZXDZ0

The Kaikoura Earthquake has caused significant disruption to families, infrastructure, and regional economies. While repair work is underway, the long-term significance of the quake is still being assessed. Victoria University’s Associate Professor John Townend has been helping analyse the earthquake, and is co-ordinating the deployment of seismometers on either side of Cook Strait to measure on-going seismicity, as part of the larger GeoNet-led response. Associate Professor Townend explains the science behind the quake and its aftershocks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-DPT11pS5k

Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand's endorsement of a declaration on indigenous rights (UNDRIP) won't change "our fundamental laws or constitution". Mr Key said  it was "a good day for New Zealand" after Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced New Zealand's support for the declaration at the United Nations early today. "We've always had a very proud record when it comes to indigenous rights." But he said endorsing the declaration was more symbolic in nature than anything else as New Zealand laws took precedence. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3600224/Hide-Indigenous-declaration-breaches-deal