Papa Kiwi you are a figure in my life. You have ignited the fire within myself, you have opened my mind to the capabilities, the stories and shown me the life that exists within the rural areas of NZ. Please don't ever let anyone detract from your passion. What matters most is your intent, Your intent is clearly displayed through your story telling and your love for our history is no secret. Do keep up the good work, you are a pivotal figure in shining the light on NZ history and for that I thank you
Cheers Tua, glad to see that the videos have added a spark to your fire. NZ has such a fascinating history, the more you dig the more your realise why today is as it is.
I am an American in the military at the time who visited New Zealand with my family in 2007 and had the best vacation in our lifetimes. While there I picked up a copy of The Musket Wars and then about four other Maori history. Thanks for all your hard work.
Hi James, Ron's an interesting guy and he put a lot of work into Musket Wars. Another of his that you will probably enjoy, being a military man, is 'Gilbert Mair, Te Kooit's Nemesis'. Mair was awarded the NZ Cross. A group visited his grave a couple of weeks ago (see latest episode) when in Rotorua. Cheers
Thank you for your amazing work both of you. I am descended from Maori and pakeha mentioned in your work Kiwi Codger. And I can connect with so many of the stories you have shared.
What a fantastic contribution you both bring to our history. So enthralled and impressed by the way you explain it all. You've re-ignited a passion in me to learn all I can and pass on to my te tamaiti. Next trip up north will be mauganui bluffs and the waima with my daughter. Thanks so much. Regards, Dave
These videos have all completely changed my life, especially as dyslexic and bipolar education wasn't my best, but watching the videos have enlighten my mind like never before, born and raised in Mangere then settled in Taupo after the army, all this amazing history is especially important for everyone born here . Thank you for the enlighten history.
Great to hear you are nejoying the wonderful history of New Zealand. When I started my history journey, I found it so fascinating and it was all new to me. I felt it needed to be told, hence the birth of Kiwicodger and the episodes. Hopefully I shall post a new set of videos in February. Happy New Year!
Wow... reading the musket wars at the moment. One good read so far. Thinking the Musket Wars are so much more sihgnificant for NZ history than the Maroi/ NZ wars. If only more people read history. But the pre-occupation with current political ideas seems to preclude this. So true what Vico said - a quality of fantasia/ imaginative travel is required. Is 'The Musket Wars' able to be bought anywhere... would love to add to my library?
What a fascinating meeting of minds. It was Ron Crosby's original book that roused my initial interest, even though not coming from New Zealand, I found the contents mindbogglingly complicated. It was only after reading Ron's second book that I could get a handle on the whole era. Now with the addition of your excellent videos and commentaries things have become even clearer. Keep up the good work on this fascinating topic.
The musket wars were incredible complicated, which is why Ron's book is a tour de force. I think some one stated that there were over 600 battles during this period, each one creating take(origins for revenge) for more battles. It was really the ToW that was the beginning of calming things down.
A highly interesting interview. I had no idea there were so many books written by Maori of their own history. Next time I'm in Nz i'll be buying both of these books. Keep up the good work
Hi KC, wondering if you could ask Ron if he knows which battle was responsible for all the skeletons uncovered on Mt Mauganui beach early 20th century after a storm. Was this the early Te Morenga 1819 campaign? Thinking it might be as according to Ron's book Te Maru achieved peace with NgaPuhi by his brave feat... and so Ngataerangi would have been spared great carnage for some time after? Unlees Hongi was responsible at a later date with his newly acquired arsenal? I was bought up in Papamoa.
Wonderfully conducted and fascinating interview. Well done to you both for this interview and previous works. New Zealand should be eternally grateful to Ron Crosby for his commitment, endurance and intelligent approach to recording history. The fact that he even went to the trouble of physically visiting various sites speaks volumes of his interest. I loved his candour. His comments on the new school curriculum are very valid and cause for concern. If the information he received has been correctly interpreted then, sadly, this will lead to non-uniform tuition as the schools in each region place their own emphasis on events without relation to a timeline and the overall scenario. This can only lead to distortion of a logical approach to the truth. It looks as though a wonderful opportunity to faithfully record New Zealand's history has succumbed to the PC brigade and will become meaningless.
May thanks, yes the musket wars not being in the history curriculum is very sad. Perhaps teachers will take the initiative and dive into it themselves although I have little faith that that will happen to any degree.
Thank you both. Great interview. Wonderful to have you both on video for future generations. What a fascinating subject our country is. So important to start getting history in an unbiased manner. Imagine what our history will look like in say 2070 when all embargoes on information are lifted regarding our past. A new history is being worked on presently by Dr Nick Mortimer about Zealandia + Te Riu a Maui. An interesting name given to it. He is calling for "'appropriately motivated collaborators" p.s. when will a dvd of Kiwi Codgers vids be available?
Hi Mary, hope all is going well with you. I have a feeling that the current period in the world, will, by 2070 be looked back upon as being completely bizarre. A period where we changed from doing what worked to doing what sounds good. Our history is there for all to discover...eventually. There are no intentions on putting out a DVD on the MW, although I never really thought about it as such...mmmm
Youre both Rangatira in my eyes! Thank you Maatua Ron Crosby for your wonderful book and great Koorero. And to you Maatua Kiwi for your wonderful research and history.
Excellent interview and knowing Rons back story. Regarding Maori history in schools IMHO the musket wars is not part of the school curriculum as it doesn't fit in with the modern woke narrative.
I agree, I'm half cast, of Northland decent, I know what there doing trying to do, it's happening all over the west, there trying to frame Europeans as these bad people, so they can get there modern day political woke shit across.. historys ugly for every race
I am dissapointed to say that you are probably right. I think its critical for Maori to understand the impact of the wars, it complicated everyones whakapapa as tribes migrated, were taken into slavery, or sought refuge with larger, stronger iwi.
In my experience growing up in the Bay of Plenty, the musket wars featured strongly in the history we learned at schools, and in the landscape - Hongi's Track, etc.
Musket wars 1 of my fav books from nz really appreciate 1 of those books u can read again an again.on my. 2nd book from Maurice shadbolt - season of the jew .I'm the same if there's an old battle site I can go to I go ..love the drone footage over lake horowhenua from there & grew up right next to that lake as much as that lake means to us lake papaitonga is the same real special & yea bad things happen & maybe shouldn't have happen but it did ..another name for it is waiwiri ..& would be good to know every 1z thoughts I love this stuff u can only imagine what it would have been ..the battle of hingakaka .. could u do te kakara battle ..found them wasn't expecting but I'm a bit speechless over the whenua I always imagined those battles & were this happened
Such great discussion The honest recognition of how history is always n slanted to some degree! The horror of musket warfare driven by old customs (which may've had a differing slant pre muskets) creating a genocide of 1 tribe against another! without this genuine account the full effects of the destruction of at least HALF of Maori population can barely be comprehended. In todays history ...in Germany proper (just the actual german state) "only "@ 250000 jews disappeared from the total German population 80 millions = 1 jew to @ 500 citizens. in NZ 1840 it was ONE TO ONE! on top of moved tribal survivors, slave displacement , western bugs , (measles etc etc ) alcohol, tobacco, & class distinction let alone the existing Maori class system of the day ,this is a huge undiscussed subject! Finally things are NOT improved by "educated" folks (including x PM ) who cannot define a WOMAN & are driven by cancelling , hate speech, censorship , & undefined wokery. We SO need your honesty facts & wisdom.
