Remembering Te Pāhuatanga o Parihaka

A DigitalNZ Story by Wellington City Libraries

There are now so many online resources linking the stories of Parihaka, Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi – laying out their foundation kaupapa of peaceful resistance. Learn more about Parihaka below.

NZHistory.net.nz Biography of Erueti Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III

Te Whiti

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III, Erueti

Dictionary of New Zealand Biography - Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III

Written by Danny Keenan

Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III, Erueti

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

NZHistory.net.nz Biography of Tohu Kākahi

Tohu Kākahi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Tohu Kakahi

Dictionary of New Zealand Biography - Tohu Kākahi

Tohu Kakahi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Parihaka

Painting of Parihaka by George Clarendon Beale (1856–1939)

This is where it all ended in deep commitment to protest, and a determination to retain their land

Parihaka

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Tātarakihi - The Children of Parihaka

Here is a trailer of a full documentary recording the journey of Tātarakihi : children of Parihaka tracing the footprint

Tātarakihi - The Children of Parihaka

NZ On Screen

And here are some videos of twentieth and twenty-first century Parihaka kaumātua Lindsay Rihari Waitara Macleod talking about growing up, living and returning back to Parihaka:

Image: Whare Taonga - Te Pā o Parihaka

Documentary

Te reo series Whare Taonga visits Parihaka. Features Ruakere Hond, Mahara Okeroa

Whare Taonga - Te Pā o Parihaka

NZ On Screen

Image: Parihaka

Parihaka music video / Tim Finn (1989)

Here is Tim Finn’s very evocative music video explaining the story of Parihaka

Parihaka

NZ On Screen

Below are some images of Parihaka from the Hocken Library's collection:

Image: Parihaka

Parihaka

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: At home, Parihaka, woman scraping potatoes with shell

At home, Parihaka, woman scraping potatoes with shell

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Te Whiti's house, Parihaka

Te Whiti's house, Parihaka

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Parihaka

Parihaka

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Maori at home, Parihaka

Maori at home, Parihaka

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

The peoples’ stories of Parihaka were not recorded so much on paper (lest the government distort their messages in a negative way). Rather, the news of the day was spread through waiata, accompanied by the beat of drum and poi. 

Waiata became the peoples’ library for the kōrero to be passed from generation to generation.

There may be 20 special waiata still remembered today, but in the time of the pahuatanga these numbered closer to 80 compositions.

Image: Women performing a poi dance, Parihaka

Women performing a poi dance, Parihaka

Alexander Turnbull Library

At the beginning of the film below Ruakere Hond describes how the many different sides and variations of kōrero of Parihaka were presented (11.50” – 35.28’), telling of the resilience and resistance and where, who, what is Parihaka.

Ruakere speaks of Parihaka as a community led by Tohu and Te Whiti. 

The early times of colonisation  brought conflict leading to the growing  importance of flax and muskets. Te Whiti and Tohu spent time in Wellington then returned to Warea where they instigated the beginnings of economic development. But the Government wanted Taranaki lands and so began to attack peaceful communities. 

A community was established at Parihaka: a new dawn, a new year of land and sanctuary for those wishing to escape 21 years of land wars which ended with the taking of 24,000 acres. 

Today, Parihaka retains only 50.19 acres and the communal ownership of land has been destroyed. 

In the above kōrero, Ruakere Hond gives us three takeaways:

  1. Parihaka is not a history - it is alive and well today. It has a past, a present and a future.
  2. Concept of historical trauma permeated their lives. Peace is a very difficult thing to maintain 
  3. We need to tell our own story: the history and background is very complex. In oral history narrative we all have different stories and we need to find ways to present all of these multiple stories. 

Also listen to The legacy of Parihaka: Dr Rachel Buchanan and Mahara Okeroa in conversation (Radio New Zealand, 2018)

Taranaki Poi

'Maori Poi of Taranaki has significance beyond just entertainment value' - a Waka Huia series in three parts:

The first of three parts describing Māori Poi of Taranaki  covers themes of whakapapa, mana and karakia (as vehicles for the stories of genealogy history and land loss) 

Themes of this video: Parihaka – a revival ; Ruakere: Jamie Tuuta ; Te Miringa Hohaia – Hemi Sundgren.

From Aotea / Turi emerged the Taranaki poi: ancient, and modified -- te poi was a taonga ; there were tima poi ; the poi was a broadcasting technology, a focus on profound statements.

There were different types of poi:  each had its purpose expressed in an ancient/traditional basis, as a vehicle for carrying information.

The parts 2 & 3 of the Taranaki Poi describe the special significance of poi in rohe of Ruanui and Whanganui.

Do you know these waiata of significance for hapū of Taranaki, recorded on a CD produced by Te Kotahitanga o Taranaki me Pōneke? (CD is He Kohikohinga o ngā waiata o Taranaki)

Poi Today:

Kaumatua of today delight in the old waiata and waiata a-ringa.

 Whakawaiwai ana te tū o Taranaki...