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Parihaka: The Art of Passive Resistance
A bestseller in New Zealand since 2000, when an exhibition at City Gallery in Wellington broke new ground in the study of Maori art and history, this is a new paperback edition of the exhibition catalog. More than 120 paintings, written accounts, and photographs from the time, following the English invasion in 1881 chronicle the story of brave leaders Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi, and celebrate the strength and spirit of the Parihaka community, even under colonial rule.
232 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
September 7, 2026
This book was designed to accompany an exhibition on art related to the invasion of the Maori village of Parihaka in 1881, arguably colonial New Zealand's darkest day.
But, unlike most "books to accompany exhibitions", this is far more than an overview of the art. Part chonicle, part art book, part anecdote and family history, part ethnography, and part poetry anthology, this is a major work that should be required reading for New Zealanders.
Certainly, it rambles, sections seem loosely connected or at odds with each other, but such is the case with both tribal histories and museum collections. There is passion in the words, power in the descriptions of the art, and the reader is left with a sense of justice not having yet been done.
I, as both a songwriter and a painter, am inspired by this book into ideas for my own art to honour those who suffered. Few historical accounts could ask for more from a reader.
But, unlike most "books to accompany exhibitions", this is far more than an overview of the art. Part chonicle, part art book, part anecdote and family history, part ethnography, and part poetry anthology, this is a major work that should be required reading for New Zealanders.
Certainly, it rambles, sections seem loosely connected or at odds with each other, but such is the case with both tribal histories and museum collections. There is passion in the words, power in the descriptions of the art, and the reader is left with a sense of justice not having yet been done.
I, as both a songwriter and a painter, am inspired by this book into ideas for my own art to honour those who suffered. Few historical accounts could ask for more from a reader.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review