April 23, 2018
King Country tale wins history prize
Massey University historian Michael Belgrave has won the prestigious 2018 Ernest Scott Prize for the best Australasian history publication for his book on race relations in 19th century King Country.
Dancing with the King: The rise and fall of the King Country, 1864-1885 brings to light the little-known story of informal peace-making encounters over a 20-year period between the Crown and the second Maori King who governed the region as an independent state.
Professor Belgrave says he discovered stories and records featured in the book while working with South Waikato-based iwi Raukawa on their treaty settlement a decade ago.
"I came across some extraordinary events, where thousands of people met over many days trying to make peace following the calamity of the Waikato War of 1863 and 1864. At these large meetings, native ministers and even the premier, Sir George Grey, were engaged in high-level diplomacy with King Tawhiao and other Maori leaders in attempts to reach a settlement," Professor Belgrave says.
Previous winners of the award include Angela Wanhalla, James Belich, and Dame Anne Salmond.
Dancing with the King is published by Auckland University Press.
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