Room 22's Story of Parihaka.

Last week Room 22 starting studying the story of Parihaka. This is a significant part of New Zealand's history which many of us knew nothing about.
We started by listening to the 'Song of Parihaka' by Tim Finn. We used the lyrics to brainstorm some ideas on what happened in Parihaka. We then worked together to summarise the story of Parihaka from http://www.parihaka.com/About.aspx
This was not an easy task as it is a very sophisticated text with some really tricky words!

Below is our version of the story. Tell us what you think?

There is small Maori settlement 55 kms south west of New Plymouth. This village is a site of historical and cultural importance. The events that took place here from 1860-1900 have changed the entire country.

By 1870 Parihaka had become the biggest village in the country. In 1881 the English began to punish the Maori and started taking away their land. It was one of the most terrible things that has ever happened in this country. The English were greedy and wanted and and power.

Te Whiti and Tohu Kakahi were the leaders of the Parihaka movement. Te Whiti and Tohu were committed to non- violence. They preached Christian teachings. They were known as spiritual men as well as political leaders. Both men had a good relationship with all other races but only if Maori could own land and respect the Europeans. The Maori rightfully wanted their independence. There were many wars in 1860 and the people of Parihaka challenged the government because their land had been taken away unfairly and illegally. Te Whiti and Tohu did not allow the use of arms and discouraged greed and violence.

In 1879 the Europeans invaded Maori land and threatened their land and communities. Te Whiti instructed his people stop the Europeans getting past them and they continued to plough the land that had been taken from them. The Europeans arrested the men working on the land and obstructing them. The ploughmen did not fight back and were treated very badly.

In 1879 the people of Parihaka put barricades across the roads and pulled out all of the survey pegs.

By 1880 hundreds of men had been forced from their land and banished to prisons in the South Island.

Many people never returned to Taranaki. On average one man died every two weeks. Meanwhile in Taranaki the settlers continued to take away land from the Maori people. The protests continued and the Maori continued to be imprisoned.

On November 5^th 1881 two member of the parliament came to Parihaka. The Maori sat peacefully as the children greeted the army. An hour later Te Whiti and Tohu were taken to prison in the South Island. The land of Parihaka was immediately destructed. It only took the army two weeks to destroy all the houses and two months to destroy the crops. Thousands of cattle, pigs and horses were slaughtered and then taken away. Women and girls were also raped and this led to an outbreak of syphilis.

Fort Rolleston was built on a tall hill in the village. Four officers and seventy soldiers defended it. They did so for five years.

While Te Whiti and Tohu were imprisoned they discovered how to use European technology. We think that Te Whiti became the first person in the country to speak on a telephone at a Christchurch railway. Also Te Whiti learnt how to use a mechanical saw to cut plate steel.

In 1883 the leaders of Parihaka were taken back to their land while many men were still left imprisoned. The families of the men who were trying to help them often died because of the poor conditions they were living in.

Because Te Whiti refused to run the monthly meetings. Because of this he was assaulted by the soldiers. Te Whiti then began to run the meetings to work out how to reclaim their land. Because of this Te Whiti was imprisoned again with Titokowaru who helped him with the protests.

In 1888, days before Te Whiti was released from prison his wife died. But he was not allowed to return to his land or attend his wifes funeral.

Te Whiti returned home to Parihaka with his Son in law- Tare Waitara. The whole town then started to modernise itself. Parihaka was thought to be ahead of its time. It had lighting, drainage and running water. Parihaka had ended 19 years of imprisonments and all of the people who were in prison were let out.

The leaders of Parihaka sadly died during the year of 1907. Their history will forever live on, and will never be forgotten.