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Māori Heroes

These resources cover mythical Maori heroes like Maui, and Kupe, famous warriors like Willie Apiata and Hōne Heke, historical figures like Princess Te Puea and Apirana Ngata, Maori All Blacks, musicians, and everyday heroes. SCIS no. 1808626

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Pounamu – Apirana Turupa Ngata

Pounamu – Apirana Turupa Ngata

Ngāti Porou leader Sir Apirana Ngata is celebrated in this episode of a series about leading Māori.

The everyday heroism of Joe Pona.

Bravery at the Front. Poverty Bay Herald, VOLUME XLIV, ISSUE 14239, 6 mARCH 1917

Tau Paruihi, a young Rangitikei Māori, was personally decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal.

Māori Heroes

A set featuring Māori heroes over the ages.

Bastion Point

This DNZ set explores Takaparawhā (Bastion Point reserve) which was occupied by Ngāti Whātua protesters, led by Joe Hawke.

Five Māori painters: Kura Te Waru Rewiri

Five Māori painters: Kura Te Waru Rewiri

Interview with 'Five Māori Painters' artist Kura Te Waru Rewiri.

Mahuika and her fingernails of fire

Mahuika and her fingernails of fire

In one tradition Auahi-roa (a comet) married Mahuika – goddess of fire and the grandmother of Māui.

Reluctant hero

Documentary covering the presentation of the Victoria Cross to Corporal Willie Apiata.

Tama Tu

Six Māori Battalion soldiers camped in Italian ruins wait for night to fall.

The chiefs Hongi and Waikato

The chiefs Hongi and Waikato

Waikato is on the left, Hongi Hika in the centre, both standing and wearing kiwi feather cloaks and flax skirts, both carrying mere. Hongi shown holding a taiaha as well. Thomas Kendall is seated o...

Māori myths and legends

Māori myths and legends

A DNZ set of items relating to Māori myth and legend heroes.

Tukaroto Matutaera Potatau Te Wherowhero Tawhiao

Tukaroto Matutaera Potatau Te Wherowhero Tawhiao

Portrait of Tukaroto Matutaera Potatau Te Wherowhero Tawhiao, the second Māori King, taken between ca 1880 and 1894, by an unknown photographer.

The famous Arawa Māori entertainers

The famous Arawa Māori entertainers

Māori concert programme for a concert featuring Guide Rangi, Ana Hato, and other members of the company. Programme featured "Waiata poi" composed by Alfred Hill. Previously estimated as 1925. Howev...

Billy T James

Billy T James, comedian and entertainer, photographed 27 July 1985 by Evening Post staff photographer Phil Reid.

Māori Battalion

Māori Battalion

Members of the Māori Battalion examining their weapons before moving up to the FDL's in the Faenza sector.

Whina Cooper

Once referred to as “the Mother of the Nation,” Whina Cooper first came to public attention as a leader of the 1975 protest hikoi that marched from Te Hāpua in Northland to Parliament demanding a h...

Ralph Hotere

Two differing caricatures of the artist Ralph Hotere. Ralph Hotere died in Feb 2013.

Te Horetā Taniwha

Te Horetā Taniwha

Te Horetā Taniwha had the incredible luck of not only visiting the ship Endeavour on its first voyage but also meeting Captain Cook. This occurred when the Endeavour sailed into at Mercury Bay to o...

Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III, Erueti

Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III was a descendant of both Awa-nui-a-rangi, the founder of Te Ati Awa of Taranaki, and Tahu-ao-ariki.

This is the story of an adorable yet feisty Kiwi icon.

Biography of Rua Kenana

Rua, known as Te Rua or Tai to Tuhoe, was born in 1869 at Maungapohatu.

Upper Hutt Posse - E Tu

The first video from Upper Hutt Posse - E Tu - this is Aotearoa Hip-Hop history ya'll. Respect!

28th Maori Battalion

This site is dedicated to the men who served with New Zealand’s 28th (Māori) Battalion during the Second World War.

An unsung musical hero

Johnny Cooper, was one of the most modest heroes New Zealand popular music has ever had.

The Prophet and the policeman

Paul Diamond reviews 'The Prophet and the Policeman: The Story of Rua Kenana and John Cullen' by Mark Derby.

Young Māori Party

Young Māori Party

The Young Māori Party, an influential political force from the 1890s, was not an organised political party. Rather it was an alliance of Māori MPs, many of them former students of Te Aute College i...

NZ Victoria Cross winners

Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu was the first Māori soldier to win the VC

Māori and sport – hākinakina

While Māori have featured more strongly in certain sports than in others, successful Māori sports people can be found across a variety of sports.

Interview with Patricia Grace

Brief interview with writer Patricia Grace.

Māori musicians have always made a significant contribution to the popular music industry, but apart from the Howard Morrison Quartet’s occasional recordings of Māori popular standards, there was v...

Māori All Blacks

The Māori All Blacks is a historic team.

Poi E - Patea Māori club

Classic 1980s song by the Patea Māori club.

Nehe Milner-Skudder

All Black sensation Nehe Milner-Skudder (Ngāti Porou, Tapuika) has won this year’s Te Tama-a-Tānenuiārangi award for Māori Sportsman of the Year.

Superheroes - 2007

It is appropriate Robyn Kahukiwa as an important Māori figure has engaged super heroes in this latest exhibition.

A visual gallery of Iwi, hapū, te reo Māori (the Māori language), tikanga Māori (Māori law and principles), whakapapa (genealogy), and more.

Unsung Heroes of Māori music

Talented Māori entertainers of the past and present are acknowledged in a new series of Unsung Heroes of Māori Music.

Shane Cotton is one of New Zealand's best-known contemporary painters.

Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae

Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae was sworn in as New Zealand’s 20th Governor-General for a five year term on 31 August 2011.

Lest we forget: Te Whiti o Rongomai

In 1879 Te Whiti o Rongomai started non-violent resistance to government surveying.

The 40th anniversary of the 1975 Māori Land March

Information relating to the Māori Land March of 1975 led by Dame Whina Cooper.

Māori Sports Awards: hall of fame

A gallery of Māori i sports people that have achieved outstanding success at international and national level.

Written and directed by James Napier Robertson, The Dark Horse is an inspiring true story based on the life of a charismatic, little-known New Zealand hero, Genesis Potini.

Koha Ramai Hayward

A pioneer of New Zealand cinema, Ramai Hayward is credited as this country’s first Māori filmmaker, camerawoman, scriptwriter and screen star.

Julian Dennison’s journey

Julian Dennison is a simple, normal kid from Naenae in Lower Hutt.

Legend (Ghost Chips)

This 2011 anti-drink driving ad campaign became a Kiwi pop cultural phenomenon.

Famous Māori People

Presents profiles of famous Māori people.

Māori Tube is the place where you will find all the best videos to celebrate anything Māori.

Keri Hulme’s novel, The Bone People, won the 1984 New Zealand Book Award for Fiction and the Booker Prize in 1985.

Te Whiti o Rongomai

Imagine a leader so inspiring he is able to encourage men with warrior hearts to stand up for their rights, while laying down their weapons.

Our koro Rua Kenana was one of many Māori prophetic leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries.

10 greatest New Zealanders

10 great people according to the New Zealand Herald.

Lest we forget: Te Puea Herangi

Te Puea was born at Whatiwhatihoe, near Pirongia in the Waikato, daughter of Te Tahuna Herangi and Tiahuia, daughter of the second Māori King, Tawhiao Te Wherowhero.

Witi Ihimaera was the first Māori to publish both a book of short stories and a novel.

Keisha Castle-Hughes’s rollercoaster ride

Life has been something of rollercoaster for Keisha Castle-Hughes since Whale Rider.

Dalvanius made great contributions to his Patea community, to Māori culture, and to our national identity.

Breathing life into legend

Digital artistry is helping bring ancient Māori gods into the 21st century, thanks to the efforts of Hutt photographer Norm Heke.

Lance O’Sullivan

In 2014 Dr Lance O’Sullivan was named New Zealander of the Year.

Women in Aotearoa

Women in Aotearoa

Women have made their mark in Aotearoa through sports, the boardroom, politics and also as academics, writers, leaders and artists. Research how feminist movements fought for voting rights, equal p...

Māori history post-European arrival

Māori history post-European arrival

The arrival of Captain Cook initiated a dynamic but increasingly unequal relationship between Māori and Pakeha through colonialism. From the Treaty of Waitangi and the New Zealand wars to land marc...

Famous New Zealanders

Famous New Zealanders

Peter Jackson, Lorde and Richie McCaw are famous nationally and internationally. Discover resources about famous New Zealand explorers, heroes, inventors, scientists, singers, writers, sportsmen, s...

Heroes and Superheroes

Heroes and Superheroes

Kate Sheppard and Apirana Ngata are real heroes in comparison to fictional superhero characters. Explore bravery and achievements in war, peace, sport, science and community includes child, animal ...

Journey of the Treaty of Waitangi

Journey of the Treaty of Waitangi

The journey of Te Tiriti o Waitangi - the Treaty of Waitangi and its signatories is as important as the Treaty itself. This topic includes the events that followed the signing, and the shifting att...

'Mother of the Nation' Dame Whina Cooper immortalised at Panguru

Revered leader Dame Whina Cooper — and one of the country's most iconic photos — are now immortalised in bronze at Panguru.