A tax on dogs nearly sparked an armed confrontation between Māori and the Crown in 1898. Now, more than 125 years later, Ngāpuhi playwright Geoffrey Clendon is bringing that extraordinary chapter of Te Tai Tokerau history back to life in a powerful new theatrical production.
Tāke Kurī: The Dog Tax Rebellion revisits the dramatic events of 1898, when Māori opposition to a controversial dog tax escalated into a standoff involving Te Māhurehure hapū, police, soldiers and government authorities.
The production explores themes of mana, resistance, colonial power and the relationship between Māori and the state, using drama, humour and historical storytelling to examine an episode that continues to resonate in Aotearoa today.
When a Dog Tax Became a Battle for Mana
The story begins in the Hokianga, where the introduction and enforcement of dog registration fees became a source of growing anger among Māori communities.
For many Māori, the tax represented far more than another financial burden.
It raised fundamental questions about the authority of colonial institutions, the erosion of Māori autonomy and the Crown’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Resistance was particularly strong among Te Māhurehure, with Hōne Tōia emerging as a central figure in the dispute.
As tensions escalated, government forces were deployed to the Hokianga, bringing armed police, soldiers and military equipment into a confrontation that threatened to turn violent.
The dispute became known as the Dog Tax War, although the confrontation was ultimately resolved without the anticipated armed battle.
A Ngāpuhi Story Told Through Māori Theatre
Clendon, a Ngāpuhi playwright, actor and director, has a particularly personal connection to the historical events.
Background material associated with the production notes that he has tūpuna on both the Māori and Pākehā sides of the conflict, providing an intergenerational perspective on the events and their consequences.
Rather than presenting the story solely as a historical confrontation, the production examines the people, relationships and competing understandings of authority that shaped the dispute.
The play also uses humour to explore serious issues, demonstrating how theatre can make complex historical events accessible to contemporary audiences.
Four actors portray more than 20 characters, including Māori and Pākehā figures involved in the confrontation, alongside canine commentators who offer a different perspective on the unfolding drama.
The cast includes Jade Daniels, Francis Mountjoy, Noa Campbell and Johnson Manukau.
Clendon is credited as writer and director, with the production adapted from earlier work by Amber Curreen.
History That Still Speaks to Aotearoa
While the Dog Tax Rebellion occurred more than a century ago, its central themes remain relevant to contemporary discussions about Māori rights, Crown authority and tino rangatiratanga.
The events highlight how disputes over seemingly straightforward government policies can become much larger conflicts when communities believe their rights, authority and cultural identity are being undermined.
For Te Tai Tokerau, the production also provides an opportunity to revisit a significant local history that may be unfamiliar to many New Zealanders.
The story connects audiences with the experiences of those who resisted the tax, the communities affected by the confrontation and the wider political environment of colonial Aotearoa.
It also raises questions about how historical events are remembered, whose perspectives are prioritised and the importance of Māori telling their own stories.
From Te Pou Theatre to the Hokianga
Tāke Kurī: The Dog Tax Rebellion will be staged at Te Pou Theatre in Henderson, Auckland, from October 29 to November 1.
The 90-minute production combines theatre, waiata and comedy, with performances in English.
The play is also scheduled to return to the Hokianga, with a performance at Rawene Town Hall on November 13, bringing the story back to the community where the historical confrontation unfolded.
Further performances are scheduled at Artworks Theatre on Waiheke Island on November 20 and 21.
For audiences in Te Tai Tokerau, the Rawene performance offers a particularly meaningful opportunity to reconnect with a defining chapter of local history.
More Than a Story About Dogs
At its heart, Tāke Kurī is about much more than a tax imposed on dog owners.
It is a story about the relationship between Māori communities and the Crown, the consequences of disregarding local voices and the determination of whānau and hapū to defend their mana.
Through theatre, Clendon is helping bring an important chapter of Ngāpuhi history to a new generation.
More than 125 years after the Dog Tax Rebellion, the story returns to the stage with a reminder that questions of mana, justice and tino rangatiratanga remain central to the story of Aotearoa.
Tickets and further information are available through www.tepoutheatre.nz.
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