Parihaka was a village that was rebelling against the current New Zealand government at the time and was a part of the New Zealand history. The causes of Parihaka were related to the principles, the treaty and how it was built on land that was originally confiscated. My artwork represents what happened in the Parihaka war and how the Maori coped with it.
Parihaka, a village located 10 km off the coast of Taranaki, was established by Te Whiti and Tohu in 1867. It was a peaceful village that warmly welcomed any visitors. They were pacifists; therefore, they did not own any weapons. There was a series of non-violent protests carried by the Maoris against the current New Zealand government.
The causes for Parihaka are closely related to the ownership of the land. The land was originally confiscated off the Maoris in the 1860’s as a punishment for being rebels; however, the Maoris just saw it as land that no one has claimed. This was one of the main causes. The British government also did not like the power Te Whiti and Tohu held. The government wanted the land back and take the power off Te Whiti and Tohu. The government made several threats towards the village, but the village people did not take them into much thought and consideration. The people of Parihaka protested in many non-violent ways. They started ploughing the land that the government was trying to sell and every time was the plougher was imprisoned for doing so, the next day there would be someone else there to replace them. They did not resist while being arrested. When the soldiers marched into Parihaka, the people invited them like they were any other visitor. The children sang songs welcoming them and the adults refused to leave the land. When Te Whiti and Tohu was arrested, they did not fight a struggle. The actions of Parihaka were all peaceful and non-violent.