The traditions connecting rangatahi to the Māori Land Wars

“When they step into that realm, they feel a shift, a movement in the wairua.” 

In October a group of 700 descendents of the Māori warriors who fought in the New Zealand Wars gathered in Tauranga to remember and honour the battles that took place 170 years ago. 

This episode of Ohinga explores Te Putake o te Riri - the commemoration of the Māori Land Wars – and how it has created a space for rangatahi to learn about Māori weaponry and history. 

Te Pūtake o te Riri, which began in 2013, is an annual event that brings together people from all over the country to commemorate the war that took place in the mid to late 18th century between Māori and the Crown. 

In the lead up to the event, rangatahi learn about mau rakau (Māori martial arts), Māori weaponry, and the history of those battles, connecting them with their ancestors who fought in the wars. 

With the New Zealand Wars now specifically included in school curriculums, Te Pūtake o te Riri provides young people with the opportunity to step into a space that brings them closer to their ancestors and their history.

This is part of our reo Māori series, Ohinga, created by Mahi Tahi Media, with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Stay tuned for a new episode every week.

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