The New Zealand Wars were a series of conflicts that profoundly shaped the course and direction of our nation’s history.
Fought between the Crown and various groups of Māori between 1845 and 1872, the wars touched many aspects of life in nineteenth century New Zealand, even in those regions spared actual fighting. Physical remnants or reminders from these conflicts and their aftermath can be found all over the country, whether in central Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, or in more rural locations such as Te Pōrere or Te Awamutu.
The wars are an integral part of the New Zealand story but we have not always cared to remember or acknowledge them. Today, however, interest in the wars is resurgent. Public figures are calling for the wars to be taught in all schools and a national day of commemoration was recently established.
Following on from the best-selling The Great War for New Zealand, Vincent O'Malley's new book provides a highly accessible introduction to the causes, events and consequences of the New Zealand Wars. The text is supported by extensive full-colour illustrations as well as timelines, graphs and summary tables.
Vincent O'Malley has gained recognition and awards for his extensive research and publications on the New Zealand Wars. His key works include The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800–2000 (BWB, 2016) and the bestseller The New Zealand Wars/Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa (BWB, 2019). Voices from the New Zealand Wars/He Reo nō ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa (BWB, 2021) won the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Award for non-fiction, and he received a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement that same year. In 2023, he was awarded the Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Humanities Aronui Medal. Dr O’Malley is a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi and a founding partner of HistoryWorks, which specialises in Treaty of Waitangi research.
Paperback, 160 pages
H: 248mm W: 185mm
Weight: 300 grams