Peace Protest and Power in Parihaka

 

The events that occurred in Parihaka (a small village in Taranaki) in the 1870's between European settlers and the Maori people have become dramatic events in New Zealand's history.

The ideas of  'Peace, Power and Conflict' were tested in a conflict between these two groups as the government wanted to take land off the Maori people who had been owners of the Taranaki land for many years, but what made this event so historic was the way in which the Maori people (led by Te Whiti and Tohu) resisted the Europeans by non violent imaginative methods.

Te Whiti and Tohu proved that power could be used in peaceful ways and still apply the traditional harmonious Maori way of life. So in 1879 Maori all over Taranaki started ploughing up the land, the European farmers were ready for war after this and even enrolled men in special units to fight the ploughmen!

Although many ploughmen were arrested for their actions, they still continued on and other men took their place. These actions carried on but not once did Te Whiti and Tohu's people use any violent measures! The outcome of the conflict seemed to prove that power could be used to overwhelm peaceful people who had adopted original methods of protest and non violent resistance against the loss of their lands.      

The Parihaka community has survived but still remains without much of the land which Te Whiti and Tohu originally claimed. In spite of hardships the people have remained faithful to the ideas of Te Whiti and Tohu........

'There will be peace, but a different kind of peace. It will be a fighting peace with no surrender of our land or loss of our independence.'

For more information The Peace Foundation offers a booklet by James Frood for $10.95 which illustrates and examines the Parihaka event. Contact the Peace Foundation to get your copy.