Author | Lightnews

Delwyn

Delwyn

@delwynm.bsky.social

400 followers 390 following 1.9K posts

SF/F writer and LOTR lover. Likes a bit of sports, cool-as science and our weird NZ fauna. Koiwoi. (she/her)

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 12h

Are these the ones that are the attack-dogs of the bird world?

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 14h

Gorgeous!

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 18h

I first heard about Parihaka in 7th form history class - the last year of high school, by when most of our year had already left school. I was stunned that this had happened down the road from me and I'd had no idea about it.

I learned far more NZ history after I left school than while I was in it.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 19h

Also, info about lots of good activities on at Parihaka is here: www.facebook.com/ParihakaPKRa...

🙂

www.facebook.com

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 19h

I didn't know about the salting! Thanks for sharing that.

Parihaka had such a good thing going on in the 1800s: economically strong, pacifistic, self-governing and welcoming to anyone who turned up. Of course the colonial Government couldn't let them continue.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

The best thing I can say about Palmy (apart from their really good hospital service) is that it's a handy base for trips to other places. In that respect, it's much like Hamilton.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

I don't think we really mind being forgotten about. We are the New Zealand of New Zealand (being left off world maps). 😄

Our biggest issues are the health service (unsurprisingly) and road resilience (when heading north - from Uruti to Pio Pio is sooo slip-prone). Other than that, it's pretty good.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

I do like it when Lisa sinks her teeth in and won't let go without her question being answered.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

JFC. That's reprehensible.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

Sources:

nzhistory.govt.nz/te-ra-o-te-p...

teara.govt.nz/en/biographi...

nzhistory.govt.nz/people/tohu-...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parihaka

taranaki.iwi.nz/our-history/...

www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu...

Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III, Erueti | Dictionary of New Zealand Biography | Te Ara

Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III was a descendant of both Awanuiārangi, the founder of Te Āti Awa of Taranaki, and Tahuaoariki. More directly, he was descended from Te Rangiāpitirua, paramount chief of Te Āti ...

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

RIP Tohu Kākahi (4 February 1907) and Te Whiti o Rongomai (18 November 1907).

Black and white montage of two photos: Te Whiti o Rongomai on the left (with bowler hat, white beard and light-coloured jacket) and Tohu Kākahi on the right (dark hair and beard, sitting at a table with tea cups and plates, with a white picket fence behind him). Photo: Stuff.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

In 1889 rebuilding work began in earnest. Today, Parihaka is a thriving community just south of Pungarehu in South Taranaki. Importantly, in June 2017, the Crown formally apologised to the community, describing the past events as ‘among the most shameful in the history of our land’.

Colour photo of Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson entering Parihaka, carrying green leaves in one hand, supported by dozens of Māori for the official Government apology to the people of Parihaka. Photo: RNZ.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

The resistance didn’t stop there, however. Ploughing continued in the 1880s and 1890s: 92 Māori were arrested in 1897 for ploughing in protest to delays in resolving issues around management of native reserves, and Te Whiti was imprisoned for six months in 1886 for occupying disputed land.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

Others arrested at Parihaka were released with the judge questioning the legality of the Government’s actions. Te Whiti demanded a right to trial (which was never granted) but in March 1883 he and Tohu were finally returned to Parihaka, which had fallen into neglect.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

Te Whiti and Tohu were detained for 16 months after an inconclusive trial for sedition. Part of their detention involved a tour of the South Island to impress them with the accomplishments of Pākehā civilisation.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

The remaining 600 residents of Parihaka were issued Government passes – anyone without a pass couldn’t re-enter Parihaka. Land that had been promised as reserves was later seized and sold to cover the cost of the invasion – Parihaka essentially paid for its own destruction.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

The invaders entered Parihaka to find more than 2,000 Māori sitting quietly on the marae. Bryce ordered the arrest of Te Whiti, Tohu and others. In the following days the troops looted and destroyed much of the village and its crops, women were raped, and its inhabitants dispersed without food.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

One of the children was Māui Pōmare, who in later years was knighted for his work in medicine and politics. He lost a toe when one of the troop’s horses stood on his foot.

A black and white photo of a very swish-looking Sir Māui Pōmare: dark hair and moustache, wearing a dark-coloured suit with waistcoat and tie, a chain linked between a waistcoat button and pocket, and holding a top hat in gloves in one hand. Photo: Alexander Turnbull Library.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

Led by newly-reinstated Native Minister (and arsehole of the first order) John Bryce and Lieutenant Colonel J M Roberts, the troops first came upon a group of children singing and skipping at the entrance to Parihaka.

Racist, superiority-complex jerkoff John Bryce in a black and white photo. He has dark hair and full beard, and is wearing a dark waistcoat, jacket and tie over a white shirt. Photo: TeAra.

Black and white photo of Lieutenant Colonel J M Roberts in his military outfit, including a braid on his shoulder and a dark-coloured hat. Photo: TeAra.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

At dawn on 5 November, about 1,600 volunteers and Constabulary Field Force troops marched on Parihaka. (Note: these were *locals*, not British forces.)

Black and white photo of Constabulary Field Force troops and volunteers standing in ranks in Parihaka, next to fenced-off areas and with whare in the background. Photo: WikimediaCommons.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

Against a backdrop of racial tension and a scare campaign that Parihaka was planning to invade New Plymouth, the Government took the opportunity to proclaim that the ‘Parihaka natives’ had 14 days to accept the offer of moving to a native reserve, or face the consequences.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

Prime Minister John Hall wanted to take action against Parihaka but Governor Sir Arthur Gordon told them to cut it out. Then, Sir Arthur left NZ to visit Fiji – and it was all on.

Black and white photo of Prime Minister John Hall: white hair and beard, dark jacket, and hold an open book in his hands. Photo: Wikipedia.

Black and white photo of Governor Sir Arthur Gordon: grey hair and beard, light grey waistcoat and jacket. Photo: Te Ara.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

Then the Government started building roads across the cultivated land. Parihaka men dug up the road, built fences and planted crops, and they were also jailed. The prisoners were released in 1881 and ploughing on confiscated land resumed – and the Government was pissed.

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

Māori also asserted their land rights by ploughing the land claimed by settlers. The Government responded by imprisoning several hundred ploughmen without trial, and sent them to South Island jails (where some died).

Delwyn @delwynm.bsky.social · 1d

Surveyors began cutting lines through cultivations and fences, and trampling cash crops. In response, people from Parihaka removed the survey pegs, packed up each survey camp and carted them back across the Waingongoro River – effecting pushing the surveyors out.