A Spectrum radio documentary broadcast in 1981, marking the centenary of the destruction of Parihaka in 1881. [It is a re-broadcast of an earlier documentary from 1968 narrated by Ian Johnstone and produced by Alwyn Owen, with interviews recorded in Taranaki by Leo Fowler.]
Opens with descriptions of unrest in Taranaki during the 1860s and a description of Te Whiti-o-Rongomai. Outlines confiscation of three million acres from Taranaki tribes. Reserves were set aside for 'loyal Māori', but not honoured.
After the 1865 destruction of his village, Te Whiti established the Parihaka Pa. Comments about Te Whiti's character from historian and author Dick Scott, who also describes Parihaka in its heyday from contemporary accounts.
J.S. Strong, a historian of Opunake, describes the lack of occupation of land near Parihaka by Europeans. But in 1878 economic depression led to the sale of Waimate lands and Māori were encouraged to allow surveying of the land, despite Te Whiti advising against it.
He sent ploughmen to take non-aggressive action against local pakeha farmers, ploughing up their land. Rigby Allen, director of New Plymouth Museum explains.
The government would not arrest the ploughmen. Settlers were outraged and then declared Hawera a republic, which forced the government into action.
Eventually the Armed Constabulary was sent out to arrest Te Whiti's followers. Laws were passed to hold the ploughmen without trial and a commission was set up to investigate.
The 1880 government under Hall saw the appointment of John Bryce as Native Affairs Minister. He was despised by Māori and determined to adopt an aggressive policy towards them. Road works began in Taranaki across Māori land, while Te Whiti's followers erected fences across them.
Johnny Awahou, an elder of Parihaka, recalls the fencing of the roads.
200 Parihaka Māori were in jail at Hokitika and more were added as they offered themselves up to authorities.. Eventually no men were left in Parihaka. the government orders arrests to cease and Bryce resigns.
The Royal Commission reports back but its recommendations were unacceptable to Te Whiti.
The national press came out on the side of government and called for a short, sharp war.
Rolleston takes over from Bryce as Native Affairs minister and visited Parihaka but while Governor Gordon was out of the country, Bryce was re-instated and takes charge of an expedition to arrest Te Whiti and Tohu and destroy Parihaka. The governor was furious on his return but it was a fait accompli. Te Whiti addressed his followers, urging non-violence.
2500 troops led by Bryce marched on Parihaka. The women baked 500 loaves of bread for the soldiers, while children awaited the arrival of troops by playing in the pa. Press were banned but two managed to creep in and recorded the sadness in the village.
Te Whiti and Tohu were arrested and held prisoner without trial for two years.
Johnny Awahou comments on Māori having some rusty guns which were found by the troops and rape of women by the soldiers. Followers who were not originally from Parihaka were sent back to their homelands.
Parihaka village was dispersed, native reserves eroded. Parihaka was rebuilt after Te Whiti's release. Later re-imprisoned for three months. Te Whiti and Tohu fall out over differences as to whether to take more aggressive action. Te Whiti dies on November 18, 1907, aged 76.
Of reserves 187, 000 acres were promised, but at Te Whiti's death only 18,000 acres were held in Māori ownership, much of this was leasehold to Europeans. Leo Fanning comments on the whittling away of Te Whiti's followers prior to his death.
Comments by historian Dick Scott and centenarian James Wills of Waitara, who remembers Parihaka, says Maori were cheated out of their land.
A 1919 commission saw a small compensation payment for loss of land and destruction of Parihaka.
Broadcaster Darryl Ware visited Parihaka in 1968 on the anniversary of Te Whiti's death, to make recordings for this programme. He describes the village today and meeting Johnny Awahou, the sole remaining elder from Te Whiti's time. He was not granted permission to make recordings of the anniversary celebrations however.
Today [1981], Alwyn Owen says Parihaka has changed and become open to visitors. Te Whiti's influence has been embraced by Maori and many Pakeha