Parihaka 1880’s

a brief description of the topic that captures the key issue or issues; On 5th November 1881, The peaceful Māori settlement of Parihaka was stormed and ransacked by 1600 New Zealand armed Government troops in a ‘stand over’ type approach.

the settlement set up by Te Whiti-o-Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi. They arrested them ho attracted and led around 2000 inhabitants to this peaceful place. Hundreds of devout followers of these two men were arrested and charged. Women of those men arrested were raped and disease spread.

The place began to fall apart as some were evicted and forced into starvation. Some had their houses destroyed and were forced to return back to their place of origin. Those arrested and held by Police without trial were either harshly imprisoned in the South Island.

practiced peaceful resistance to land confiscations by the government. This is evidenced by the children that were sent out to greet the Government troops and women who prepared food and sang songs welcoming the constabulary and volunteer troops.

Under the leadership of the prophets Te Whiti-o-Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi, Parihaka became a focus of non-violent resistance to land confiscation in the late 1800s, and it paid a heavy price for its defiance.

Hundreds of government troops invaded the settlement on 5 November 1881, and the village was destroyed and its leaders were arrested and detained without trial for 16 months.

• the primary concerns and motivations of the protesting group central to your chosen topic (i.e. the issues they were concerned about and what they wanted to happen);

The primary and growing concern faced by over 2000 men, women, and children who resided at the peaceful settlement of Parihaka was the Government continued to confiscate and build roads and infrastructure on indigenous Maori land without listening to the voices of those who resided there.

John Bryce the minister of native affairs at the time demanded that those who resided at Parihaka give up their land and resources. There continued to be confiscating land bullying and bulldozing its way through and over Māori culture and identity. Rather than listening to the voice of the Māori people and honoring their traditions Government was not honoring

the Te Tiriti of Waitangi and were not considering the voice of Māori from a cultural lens and as the indigenous people who arrived long before the settlers did.

which resulted in ignorance for confiscating Māori land and abusing Treaty agreements. They brought in specific laws that saw claimed ownership of it without proper consultation with the Indigenous people and or tribes.

• how the minority or protesting group used their voice;

The people of Parihaka were not going to physically put up a fight to contest the Government’s outrageous eviction and confiscation of indigenous land tactics. rather they.

They protested by placing little children at the forefront of the arriving constabulary. The children greeted them. The women sang songs. Food was prepared. Nonresistance fighting to armed forces was the only way that Te Whiti and Toho had taught their people.

• the main challenges they faced ensuring their voices were heard; and

• the consequences, particularly in terms of identity, both positive and negative, of projecting a dissenting voice

Voice not heard / expression is made other forms skits, movies, arts, singing, dancing, haka.

RNZ: The Rest is History: Parihaka –

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/lately/audio/2018771570/the-rest-is-historyparihaka

After the 1860 wars between indigenous Maori and British settlers New Zealand Parliament introduced “The New Zealand Settlement Act, which meant they could confiscate maori land to punish iwi that was deemed to have rebelled against “Her Majesty’s Authority”.

Also, the “Suppression of Rebellion Act was introduced which meant any Maori fighting against British forces could be arrested and detained without trial indefinitely. Under this act 1.2 Million Acres of land was confiscated and much of it was handed out to troops and Europen Settlers that had fought in the wars.

Maori who lost land around the country were forced to relocate and many saw Parihaka as a peaceful sanctuary or a place of refuge.

Tohu and Te Whiti taught peaceful resistance, mimicking biblical beliefs of loving your enemy and doing good to those who persecute you, turning the other cheek. When government surveyors arrived to arrange the land in preparation for their purposes of building etc, Maori were sent by Te Whiti and Tohu to pull out pegs which they had laid and plough the land in response.

People were forced to leave on the day and subsequent days, and the government knew these poor people were being forced to return to places/villages where there was nothing to eat.

Starvation was the aftermath of Parihaka. Homes and crops were destroyed. Looting by soldiers e.g. Green limestone Taoga, raping of Maori women, general disregard for humanity or those at paprika values and beliefs even children.

Gift of Manakitanga / Hospitality to those who had wronged them ie soldiers/constabulary. The great war of division among the indigenous Maori and British settlers in who owned the land or had governance over it.

Maori people were so outnumbered due to disease, starvation, and war. This saw their efforts futile to defend against the enemy. Their focus was turned towards peaceful resistance to the Government “stand over” tactics
The peaceful settlement of Parihaka was the Largest Maori village/community in the nation at the time.

5 Nov. 1881 ransacked against government policy, rules, and regulations crown troops stormed Parihaka, detaining and arresting many men holding them often without trial on the south island. The women who were left behind were raped NZ Day of shame – fateful day, land theft in Aotearoa.

Men’s story was common knowledge But the Rape of the women was silenced because of the stigma, shame, and embarrassment that goes along with that act.

It was recorded in lineage, it’s in whakapapa, it’s in waiata and the crown recognizes these historical facts settlements have been made with Maori. In order to build a robust educational system that supports and builds upon both Maori and  Pakeha mixed identity, is quite complex.

This relationship requires awareness and an acceptance of both cultures, especially through Maori culture has been ignored or shelved.

Shaping our nation? Affects our identity of who we are as New Z