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Footsteps of Fire
When you talk about terrorism, most people in New Zealand think about problems overseas. But those in Gisborne and the East Coast merely cast their minds back to the Ruatoria Troubles. From 1985 until 1990 the township was terrorised by a cannabis-growing Maori sect calling itself the Rastafarians. Their story is one of the most bizarre chapters in modern New Zealand history. Yet most people have never heard of The Rastas or their reign of terror... until now. The first book in the series, Footsteps of Fire covers the philosophies and roots of the Rastas and the early crimes that cemented their fearsome reputation, such as “beating the devil out” of an acquaintance, the beheading of Lance Kupenga, the dragging of a horse which later died, and the kidnapping of a police officer.
295 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2008
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About the author
Angus Gillies
19 books1 followerAngus Gillies is the author of the Ruatoria Killings series of non-fiction investigations. He has worked as a journalist and producer at TV3 for 20 years, and has written biographies of Matthew Ridge, Adam Parore, Justin Marshall and John Rowles.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 16, 2019
This trilogy of books covers the "troubles" in the New Zealand town of Ruatoria, on the remote East Coast, during the 1980s. It's a brilliant blend of oral history and true crime. The trilogy title 'Ngāti Dread' is a play on 'Ngāti', being a Māori word meaning "people of.. [tribal name]", and 'Natty Dread', the title of a classic Bob Marley reggae LP.
The first book 'Footsteps of Fire' examines the early activities of a Rastafarian group in Ruatoria, including some shocking, complicated crimes which are related in suspenseful detail. The title refers to a Ngāti Porou prophecy that a great leader would be born, who would be known by leaving "footsteps of fire" when setting foot on a certain marae as a child. Several of the Rastas believed they might be this leader.
The second book 'No Dreadlocks No Cry' looks at the response of the police and local community to unfolding events, which included dozens of arsons: by the end, around 40 buildings (fire station, police station, marae, churches, primary school, etc.) were destroyed by fire in a town of only around 750 people. The narrative centres on the trial of several police for abusing a Rasta suspect they'd taken into custody to try and get a "break". As the book relates, the authorities ultimately found no adequate way to counteract the troubles.
The third book 'Revelation' details how events were eventually brought to a close with the brutal killing of Rastafarian leader Chris Campbell at the hands of his (non-Rasta) cousin Luke Donnelly, who tended to fight back against any personal threat with extreme force.
Thematically, the trilogy is very rich, encompassing the contexts of - in no particular order - Maori land claims, farming history, dynamics among Ngati Porou hapu and whanau, inter-generational change and friction within the Maori community, Maori spirituality and prophecy, race relations, crime and punishment, the advent of drugs and gang culture, Rastafarian belief, and the meaning of justice.
The texts are constructed from various interviews intercut with court notes, newspaper and book quotes and the author's own lively, skeptical, questioning interpolations. Multiple - and often as not conflicting - perspectives on events are thus juxtaposed. It's really quite amazing the author was able to gather the interview material from people. This more than compensates for the books' rough-edged qualities. (The books are all self-published: apparently no publisher would touch them.)
One request for the next edition: it would have been great to have a map showing all the locations.
The first book 'Footsteps of Fire' examines the early activities of a Rastafarian group in Ruatoria, including some shocking, complicated crimes which are related in suspenseful detail. The title refers to a Ngāti Porou prophecy that a great leader would be born, who would be known by leaving "footsteps of fire" when setting foot on a certain marae as a child. Several of the Rastas believed they might be this leader.
The second book 'No Dreadlocks No Cry' looks at the response of the police and local community to unfolding events, which included dozens of arsons: by the end, around 40 buildings (fire station, police station, marae, churches, primary school, etc.) were destroyed by fire in a town of only around 750 people. The narrative centres on the trial of several police for abusing a Rasta suspect they'd taken into custody to try and get a "break". As the book relates, the authorities ultimately found no adequate way to counteract the troubles.
The third book 'Revelation' details how events were eventually brought to a close with the brutal killing of Rastafarian leader Chris Campbell at the hands of his (non-Rasta) cousin Luke Donnelly, who tended to fight back against any personal threat with extreme force.
Thematically, the trilogy is very rich, encompassing the contexts of - in no particular order - Maori land claims, farming history, dynamics among Ngati Porou hapu and whanau, inter-generational change and friction within the Maori community, Maori spirituality and prophecy, race relations, crime and punishment, the advent of drugs and gang culture, Rastafarian belief, and the meaning of justice.
The texts are constructed from various interviews intercut with court notes, newspaper and book quotes and the author's own lively, skeptical, questioning interpolations. Multiple - and often as not conflicting - perspectives on events are thus juxtaposed. It's really quite amazing the author was able to gather the interview material from people. This more than compensates for the books' rough-edged qualities. (The books are all self-published: apparently no publisher would touch them.)
One request for the next edition: it would have been great to have a map showing all the locations.
June 11, 2017
I have just finished reading the three volumes of Ngati Dread. To say that I enjoyed them is an understatement - this is the most compelling history I have ever read.
The author interviewed all those involved in the story, and pieces their words and other documents such as newspaper articles and court proceedings together into a truly compelling narrative.
The many different voices are completely fascinating. Having said that, perhaps the parts that I most enjoyed were those where Gillies' own experiences in putting it all together are illuminated.
This is not only an engrossing story - it is enlightening. The books say so much about history, memory, truth, justice, Maori, religion, growing up and human nature.
I want to congratulate Angus Gillies for carrying out and completing this huge endeavor. It is a stunning achievement.
The author interviewed all those involved in the story, and pieces their words and other documents such as newspaper articles and court proceedings together into a truly compelling narrative.
The many different voices are completely fascinating. Having said that, perhaps the parts that I most enjoyed were those where Gillies' own experiences in putting it all together are illuminated.
This is not only an engrossing story - it is enlightening. The books say so much about history, memory, truth, justice, Maori, religion, growing up and human nature.
I want to congratulate Angus Gillies for carrying out and completing this huge endeavor. It is a stunning achievement.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews