The Governor 1 - The Reverend Traitor (First Episode)

Television (Full Length Episode) – 1977

The first episode of landmark 1977 historical drama The Governor is a one and a half hour epic. Soon after signing the Treaty of Waitangi, charismatic Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke (George Henare) defies British forces, culminating in the battle at Ruapekapeka pā. Missionary Henry Williams tries to calm his old friend, but his influence is resented by the British. Change arrives with Governor George Grey —who undermines Williams, aggressively pursues 'peace' and captures fearsome Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha, holding him without trial. Governor writer Keith Aberdein provides a provocative angle on the award-winning show here.

Quite deliberately, and with the arrogance of relative youth, we'd set out to bring down a few flagpoles of our own. But as Hōne Heke understood, flagpole lowering has to be repeated.
– Governor writer Keith Aberdein, in his backgrounder for NZ On Screen (see 'Backgrounds' tab below the video player)