Soldier's hut alongside Great South Road (undated). Temple photograph. Photo: Alexander Turnbull Library
On October 28th Aotearoa will commemorate Te Putake o te Riri, a day established to recognise and remember the period of our history known as the New Zealand Wars.
In past years, iwi, community and the Crown have jointly acknowledged the day, reflecting on the actions of the colonial government which saw a huge loss of life, the confiscation of land and theft of taonga.
Also remembered are the colonial and imperial troops, the foot soldiers - some as young as fourteen - who lived and worked in harsh conditions for little reward. This part of the New Zealand Wars story has been included in a new book called Garrison World, written by historian, Professor Charlotte Macdonald.
Following the war at Ruapekapeka in the North and Taranaki on the West Coast, the colonial government set its sights on the Waikato but first it had to get there. Charlotte talks to Mihi about the significance of Great South Road which passes through Ōtāhuhu.
Book cover of Garrison World by historian Charlotte Macdonald. Photo: Supplied / Bridget Williams Books
