History Man

Television (Full Length) – 2004

Michael King's Penguin History of New Zealand is not only a bestseller; the writer acted as a bridge between te ao Māori and Pākehā. History Man traces King's past, to understand the man behind biographies of Māori leaders like Princess Te Puea and Dame Whina Cooper, and author Janet Frame. This 70-minute documentary was commissioned only weeks before King and his wife Maria Jungowska died in a car accident. A detailed portrait of a beloved New Zealander, History Man was made by the same producer/director team behind documentaries on actor Ian Mune and pianist Michael Houstoun.

I think he was hurt by the backlash. I think that he felt that he was writing both for Māori and for Pākehā, and I think he felt that it was as important for Pākehā — Pākehā like me — you know to learn about the contributions of someone like Te Puea, or Whina Cooper, as it was for Māori to know about it.
– Historian Jock Phillips on Michael King’s reaction to calls for him to step away from writing about Maori