Series Classification: PG (Parental Guidance)
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Meet one of Aotearoa's most compelling and misunderstood historical figures... Te Whakatōhea Chief Mokomoko.
In episode one, we go back to the 1860s when the intelligent and enterprising Māori chief Mokomoko was dedicating his life to protecting the land and people of Bay of Plenty's Te Whakatōhea Iwi.
The 1860s was a trying time for Māori in Aotearoa as they tried to adapt to Queen Victoria's new system of government which was working to obtain Māori land for colonial settlers.
In episode one, Chief Mokomoko becomes a prominent Māori chief who dedicates his life to protecting the land and people of Bay of Plenty's Te Whakatōhea Iwi.
Mokomoko was born into a legacy of leaders and was known for his intellect. He was well-versed in trading and exporting produce to Auckland and New South Wales and secured land connected to one of Aotearoa's most sought-after ports.
Mokomoko was well aware that the Crown was confiscating land from Māori in the North Island. People corresponded through letters at the time, exchanging information about the Land Wars and the rise of Christianity.
In the 1860s, a group of Māori Christians known as Pai Mārire began to cause unease among Pākehā settlers, rejecting traditional Christianity and distrusting missionaries.
There was growing concern amongst tangata whenua about the government's grab for Māori land. As more land was taken over, battles erupt between Māori and The Crown.
Te Māngai Pāho Photo: Te Māngai Pāho
