June 21, 2024
Māori perspective critical for Orakau tale
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Ka Whawhai Tonu director Michael Jonathan says it’s important for all New Zealander to acknowledge what happened in the New Zealand Wars.
His film on the 1864 Battle of O-Rākau, which will be released in cinemas next week, has been described by one critic as a blistering war film.
It stars Temuera Morrison as Rewi Maniapoto, whose refusal to surrender to colonial forces with the words ‘ka whawhai tonu mātou, Āke! Āke! Āke!’ became a rallying cry for Maori resistance.
Jonathan says he wanted to tell the story from the Maori side – complete with language, attitudes and practices.
“We’re not bagging anyone, it’s just the story of what happened. And we want to encourage people to go there and just get a sense of where we are coming from – get a sense of our perspectives,” he says.