NZ Wars - Stories of Waitara

This second online documentary about the New Zealand Wars sees presenter Mihingarangi Forbes visiting old Taranaki battlefields. Forbes travels to Waitara and its surrounds, where British colonial forces attacked Māori in the late 1800s because they refused to sell their land. Animation is used to bring modern-day ruins of pā back to life — such as Pukerangiora and Puketakauere. Historians and Te Āti Awa members talk about the tactical prowess of Māori, who used decoy pā to trick the British, and the lingering sadness Māori still feel about losing their land. The show won Best Māori Programme at the 2020 NZ TV Awards.

Settlers wanted it as much as Māori were determined to keep it.

– Presenter Mihingarangi Forbes, on British settlers desiring land in Waitara

Key Cast & Crew

Mahanga Pihama

Co-Director, Producer

Rewa Harre

Cinematographer

Cameron Bennett

Co-Director, Writer

Annabelle Lee-Mather

Executive Producer

Arthur Rasmussen

Cinematographer, Camera Operator

Mihingarangi Forbes

Writer, Creator, Co-Director, Producer, Presenter