New book on New Zealand Wars edited by NZDF historian

Yesterday marked the official launch of a new book, Tutu te Puehu: New perspectives on the New Zealand Wars.

The book, edited by John Crawford, the New Zealand Defence Force Historian, and Dr Ian McGibbon, formerly War History General Editor at the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, is a timely way of acknowledging a critical period in our nation’s history, given the 160th anniversary of the formation of the Kingitanga in 1858 and the subsequent New Zealand Wars from the 1860s.

The launch of the book is also a forerunner of the Ra Maumahara National Day of Commemoration of the New Zealand Wars, set down for 28 October each year.

Tutu te Puehu arose out of a New Zealand Military History Committee conference.

“The conference was a great learning experience for me,” Mr Crawford said.

“I thought when I started that I had a pretty good knowledge of the New Zealand wars, but it soon became apparent to me that there were serious gaps in my understanding of these conflicts.”

The book contains 22 chapters by leading New Zealand and overseas historians. The chapters by non-New Zealand historians placed the New Zealand Wars in the context of other conflicts on the borders of the British Empire during the 19th century, Mr Crawford said.

“Many of the chapters deal with aspects of the New Zealand Wars that have never before received detailed attention from scholars.

“The book abounds with new insights and will make many New Zealanders look with fresh eyes at the New Zealand Wars, which did so much to shape our nation.”