Rangiriri grave

Hi Kimberley
Can I also add to Jamie's comments that it is really encouraging to hear that student's such as yourself are looking at this important part of our history.
I think looking at our contribution to and participation in overseas war is generally easier for the general public to digest. The New Zealand wars force us to look at our own backyard and to examine events and issues that because they are close to home for some are too close to home if you get what I mean. Questions are raised about us as people and how we relate to each other that are tougher to deal with than events overseas often involving people that we are perhaps not so familiar with. If we accept some interpretations of these wars as our own civil war then it can simply become too uncomfortable. These wars mess with the notion that the Treaty of Waitangi contributed to the peaceful colonisation of this country and a somewhat simplistic view some have of nineteenth century race relations. Gallipoli by being 'over there' is easier to promote in terms of heroes and villains and the associated mythology.
Obviously the more we talk about, teach and discuss events such as Rangiriri the greater chance that some of these perceptions might change. At the end of the day a lot of people simply know nothing about these events. Most speed past Rangiriri on State Highway 1 and don't even know what it is they are driving past. Our work on the 19th century wars is designed to provide more information on these issues so that more can begin to have these conversations.
A letter to your local Waikato Times could be one place to start.
Equally we could ask why Gallipoli continues to overshadow our experiences on the Western Front...
Regards Steve Watters

Hi Kimberley - great to see NZ Wars material being used for year 13.
Since we added this image we have published a whole lot more information about Rangiriri which you can find here. Regards, Jamie Mackay

Hi, im currently researching the commemoration of New Zealand war sites, imparticular Rangiriri, 1) why is Rangiriri remembered as one of New zealands most significant battle sites? 2) What are the different attitudes people think about the commemoration of Rangiriri? 3) If it is one of New Zealands most significant battles, then why is iit not widely known to everyday New Zealanders, compared to events such as ANZAC Day for example. What do you think we can do about this?? regars Kimberley Hassall year 13. Hillcrest High School Hamilton :)