The 19th century New Zealand land wars have been formally recognised for the first time today, Kiwi artists are also giving a voice to the conflicts.
New Zealand singer Ria Hall is one of them, whose new album is inspired by the epic story of Gate Pa.
It is inspired by Henare Taratoa who wrote four rules of engagement for Maori and colonial soldiers including how pakeha soldiers would be protected during the battle for Gate Pa.
"I wanted to use and reference those amazingly compassionate four rules to really inform how I would create the work sonically musically and lyrically," says Ms Hall.
Gate Pa's a quiet memorial site now, but in 1864 it was the site of an epic battle with Tauranga Iwi massing there to offer resistance to colonial forces, they made stunning use of trench warfare, soundly defeating their opponents.
Weeks later Maori would be crushed at another battle and wholesale confiscations would begin.
Ria Hall isn’t the only artist who was inspired by the rules, artist Tracey Tawhiao saying: "We have a military strategist Henare Taratoa speaking in these terms and we're having to do something quite massive against a huge onslaught but we still have etiquette and we still have ethics".
Both women say the conflict gives their work insight into New Zealand and how it is now.
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