Historian highlights shifting youth awareness on New Zealand wars

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Atereano Mateariki Vincent O'Malley | Historian highlights shifting youth awareness on New Zealand wars

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Historian Vincent O’Malley says understanding Aotearoa’s history is crucial, especially with the Treaty Principles Bill approaching.

Yesterday, marked the seventh Te Pūtake o Te Riri, a day to remember the New Zealand Wars (1845-1872).

O’Malley says many Pākehā have a limited or romanticized view of this history, but the trend is shifting, with young people increasingly engaging with it.

“Personally, I think governments come and go, but the broader social trends, I think, remain in place, and they’re pretty hard to dislike. So that’s what gives me encouragement for the future, really, especially when you look at the rangatahi today, and the way that they really are very interested in engaging with New Zealand history, and, you know, learning about these events that took place, and visiting the sites. And so there are lots of sort of, I think, things for encouragement,” says O’Malley.

He Rā Maumahara was inspired by Ōtorohanga College students after attending the 150th anniversary of the battle of Ōrākau.

Yesterday also marked the signing of He Whakaputanga in 1835.

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