#culture: Waerenga-a-Hika Remembered: New RNZ Series Brings Māori History and Truth to the Forefront

One of the defining conflicts of the New Zealand Wars is receiving renewed national attention with the release of NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika, a new RNZ documentary and podcast series that places the voices of Te Tai Rāwhiti iwi at the centre of one of Aotearoa’s most significant, yet often overlooked, chapters of colonial history.

Released during the Matariki weekend, the series explores the 1865 siege of Waerenga-a-Hika, a conflict that forever altered the lives of Māori in Tūranga and left a legacy that continues to shape generations of whānau today.

Artist, iwi historian and Gisborne District Councillor Nick Tupara says the timing of the series is significant.

He believes Matariki, a time of remembrance, reflection and looking towards the future, provides an appropriate opportunity for New Zealanders to confront difficult aspects of the nation’s shared history while recognising the resilience of those who endured them.

The siege of Waerenga-a-Hika occurred during the New Zealand Wars as Crown forces laid siege to a pā near present-day Gisborne, targeting supporters and alleged supporters of the Pai Mārire movement.

Following the surrender, hundreds of Māori were taken prisoner.

Many men, women and children were later transported without trial to the Chatham Islands, where they remained in exile for years before some eventually returned to their ancestral lands.

The conflict became one of the defining moments in the history of Te Tai Rāwhiti, contributing to land confiscation, social disruption and intergenerational trauma whose effects continue to be felt today.

Tupara says those events remain deeply embedded in the collective memory of many whānau throughout the region.

The imprisonment of ancestors, the loss of whenua and the disruption of whakapapa connections are not simply historical events recorded in books but experiences that continue to influence identity, wellbeing and relationships between iwi and the Crown.

For many descendants, the consequences of Waerenga-a-Hika are still visible through ongoing conversations about justice, historical recognition and the restoration of mana.

The documentary and podcast series distinguish themselves by presenting the story through the voices of those whose ancestors lived the events.

Rather than relying solely on colonial accounts, the series draws upon oral histories, whakapapa, iwi knowledge and Māori scholarship to present a perspective that has often been absent from mainstream historical narratives.

Tupara believes this approach enriches New Zealand’s understanding of its own history.

By centring Te Tai Rāwhiti voices, audiences gain a fuller appreciation of the human impact of colonisation and a deeper understanding of how Māori communities experienced the conflict.

The release of the series also comes during a period of renewed national interest in the New Zealand Wars.

Recent years have seen increasing efforts to incorporate this history into schools, museums and public commemorations, recognising that many New Zealanders completed their education with little understanding of the conflicts that shaped the country’s development.

For Tupara, learning this history is not about assigning blame.

It is about acknowledging truth, recognising the experiences of those affected and creating a stronger foundation for reconciliation.

Understanding events such as Waerenga-a-Hika helps explain many of the social, political and economic challenges that continue to affect Māori communities today while strengthening the nation’s collective understanding of its past.

He believes meaningful reconciliation begins with knowledge.

Only by listening to the stories of those whose ancestors experienced these events can New Zealand continue building relationships based on honesty, respect and shared understanding.

As Aotearoa continues to reflect on its history through Matariki and beyond, NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika provides an opportunity for audiences to engage with one of the country’s most important historical events through the voices of the people whose legacy endures today.

The series serves as a reminder that history is not simply about what happened in the past—it continues to shape the present and influence the future.

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