| Event Name: |
Taranaki War 1860-2010 Our Legacy – Our Challenge |
| Start Date: |
17 March 2010 |
| End Date: |
01 August 2010 |
| Season: |
Summer |
| Venue: |
Puke Ariki |
| Venue Address: |
1 Ariki Street |
| City/Town: |
New Plymouth |
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Taranaki War tells the story that began in March 1860 when the first shots were fired in a series of wars that raged through the region on and off for 21 years. At stake was ownership of the land which would determine the destinies of both Māori and Pākehā.
Today — 150 years later — the war that shaped Taranaki appears every bit as shocking as any 21st century news bulletin. This enthralling exhibition describes in detail the invasion, bombing, civilian casualties, siege and attempted ethnic cleansing that took place and extends the discussion from historic events to contemporary issues that are the legacy of war.
While the stories told in the exhibition are embedded in Taranaki’s history, they are not exclusive to the region. Their close examination helps us to better understand who all New Zealanders are, where they have been in their history and where they might be heading.
Taranaki War is the final part of Puke Ariki’s five-exhibition Common Ground series designed to build background history and explore the Taranaki wars themselves. Takapou Whāriki explored family history and identity; Taranaki Whenua looked at issues surrounding land; Taranaki Culture celebrated the region’s creativity and Taranaki Fortunes dealt with matters of regional economy. This current exhibition revisits all these topics of family, land, culture and economy in the light of the devastating effects of Taranaki war.
The exhibition, however, is not locked into past events. There are plenty of historic and contemporary images and objects, mainly from Puke Ariki’s heritage collection, and several key items from other New Zealand institutions, alongside cutting-edge technology that deposits history firmly in the present. The tales of dodgy deals and dirty tactics, heroes and villains, friends and foes, despair, protest and hope may be old ones, but the themes all ring true today. The horror of 19th century war and its long-term effects are thought-provokingly real.
Visitors to the exhibition should come prepared not only to learn but to have their own on-the-spot say on relevant issues by making use of the opportunities provided.
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