Summary of NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui | Documentary | RNZ

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

This video documents the history of the Waikato Wars, which took place in the 1860s. The main characters are Rewi Maniapoto, a rallying cry for generations of Maori to come, and Cameron, the British emissary sent to negotiate a surrender. The war ended with the Battle of Oraco, but the story is still ongoing, as the descendants of the war participants are still struggling to reclaim their land.

• 00:00:00 This video tells the story of the invasion of the Waikato between 1863 and 1864, which is seen as the beginning of the New Zealand Wars. The conflict between the Maori people and the British Empire is portrayed as brutal, bloody, and calculated. The invasion marks the beginning of a titanic struggle for New Zealand itself, with the Waikato River playing a major role in the conflict. The first anointed Maori king, Tainuiwakamypeople, is central to the story, as is Governor Grey, who is both a warrior strategist and a statesman dedicated to imperialism. Ultimately, the Waikato River would be lost to those who hold it sacred, and the conflict between Maori and British would continue for over eight years.
• 00:05:00 The documentary tells the story of the New Zealand Wars, a series of conflicts fought between Maori and European settlers. Tainui, a legendary leader of the Maori, is mentioned. Governor Grey, who fought against Tainui, is also described. The first task of the British Army during the New Zealand Wars was to build a supply line.
• 00:10:00 The documentary tells the story of the Crown's invasion of Waikato in 1863, during which 18,000 British troops clashed with Tainui and their allies. The military road relentlessly cuts through bush and hillsides, finally reaching the Mangataphati River just south of the Bombay Hills by March 1863. Gray's goal was to increase the number of British troops in New Zealand, and in total there were about 18,000 troops on the Crown side involved in the invasion. Despite the odds, the Tainui and their allies were able to hold their own, and the invasion ultimately failed in its objectives.
• 00:15:00 The documentary discusses the origins of the New Zealand Wars, which took place between 1843 and 1845. The wars were fought with steam-powered gunboats, which had never been encountered before. The gunboats changed the dynamics of war, as they were able to quickly deliver troops to the front line and inflict massive damage on enemy strongholds. The fortress of Rangidiri was one of the key battlegrounds of the wars, and was eventually conquered by the British.
• 00:20:00 The documentary tells the story of the Tainui people, who defended their land against British invaders in the New Zealand Wars. The women and children were responsible for putting powder in the shot and passing it up the line, and were often killed or injured in the process. The British eventually overcame the defenders, and the survivors were taken prisoner of war. Today, the cemetery at Rangidiri commemorates the deaths of both British and Tainui people.
• 00:25:00 This documentary tells the story of the New Zealand Wars, which took place from 1845 to 1872. The wars were fought between the Māori and the British, and resulted in the deaths of both Māori and British soldiers. The documentary also focuses on the battle of Rangyafalia, which took place in 1864. The British were surprise attacked by the Māori, and many children and women were killed in the process. The British and Māori eventually reached an agreement not to fight each other, and Saint Paul's Chapel in Rangyafalia is still a religious site today.
• 00:30:00 This documentary recounts the experiences of Tainui people who were forced to flee their homes in New Zealand during the war of 1845. Many were killed or captured by the invading force, and one 10-year-old boy was shot dead while running away. The documentary also tells the story of an old woman who was raped by the invading force and whose old people were shot. She was later renamed "demi" and changed her name to reflect the pain and sorrow caused by the war. Today, the memories of the war and its effects are still felt by the Tainui people.
• 00:35:00 The documentary follows the Tainui people, who have lost their industrial heartland to the expansion of the city, as they try to find a way to survive. Some trudge off into exile in neighboring maniapoto, while others remain committed to the fight and look forward to the final stand of the war for Waikato. However, their decision to engage the British troops directly leads to a disastrous tactical situation, with the outnumbered defenders suffering heavy casualties.
• 00:40:00 This video documents the history of the Waikato Wars, which took place in the 1860s. The main characters are Rewi Maniapoto, a rallying cry for generations of Maori to come, and Cameron, the British emissary sent to negotiate a surrender. The war ended with the Battle of Oraco, but the story is still ongoing, as the descendants of the war participants are still struggling to reclaim their land.
• 00:45:00 The documentary, NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui, follows the descendants of the Tainui iwi (tribe) as they continue to grapple with the effects of the country's colonial past. The divide between those who fought in the war and those who did not remains unresolved, and the descendants continue to live with the consequences of that to this day.