Voices from the New Zealand Wars | He Reo no nga Pakanga o Aotearoa

Welcome to our story, this history. Whichever part of the world the bones of your ancestors lie, wherever their ashes may have been dispersed, here you will find traces of them, and of yourself. It is a story of colonisation and resistance – and a history that has never stopped repeating itself.

The New Zealand Wars of the mid-nineteenth century profoundly shaped the course and direction of the nation's history. Voices from the New Zealand Wars | He Reo nō ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa by Vincent O'Malley takes us to the heart of these conflicts through a series of first-hand accounts from both Māori and Pākehā who either fought in or witnessed the wars that ravaged New Zealand between 1845 and 1872. This pivotal period is brought to life through diverse and compelling narratives, unveiling the human experiences behind the historical events.

From Hēni Te Kiri Karamū's narrative of her remarkable exploits as a wahine toa (woman warrior) to accounts from the field by British soldiers and powerful reports by observers on both sides, the book reveals the wars at a deeply personal level. The voices included often come from fragmentary and hastily written accounts, creating a vivid and emotional portrayal of fear, horror, pity and courage experienced during this turbulent time in the country's history.

Each account is expertly introduced and contextualised by Vincent O'Malley, ensuring that the historical record speaks to us clearly and compellingly through many voices. The book offers a profound understanding of the conflicts, presenting the human side of the wars through heartfelt and often raw testimonies.

Voices from the New Zealand Wars | He Reo nō ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa is a significant contribution to New Zealand's historiography and was honoured with the General Non-Fiction Award at the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.