HistoryWorks

09/07/2025

"It was a mutually beneficial relationship – at least until Governor George Grey decided that the Kīngitanga had to be destroyed, paving the way for the invasion of its Waikato heartland in July 1863."

In July 1863 the Crown launched a premeditated war of conquest and invasion directed against Kīngitanga supporters in Waikato and their relatives living...

21/03/2025

Unsettling: Aotearoa NZ History is a brand new newsletter from Vincent O'Malley engaging with our history. First post and links to subscribe in the post below.

Ko Vincent O’Malley toku ingoa He kaimahi hītori au Nō Airangi, Koterangi me Ingarangi ōku tīpuna I tipu ake au ki Ōtautahi E noho ana au ki Te Whanganui-a-...

15/10/2024

Bridget Williams Books invites you to an event in Wellington to mark the arrival of Vincent O’Malley’s latest book 'The Invasion of Waikato/ Te Riri ki Tainui'.

Thursday 24 October
Public Trust Hall
131-135 Lambton Quay
Wellington

Doors open from 5.30pm, event starts 6.00pm

This event takes place in the lead-up to Rā Maumahara, the National Day of Commemoration for the New Zealand Wars, observed on Monday 28 October.

Nau mai, haere mai. Public event, no RVSP needed.

13/07/2024

04/05/2024

The fifth chapter of this series, presented by Mihingarangi Forbes and featuring Dr Vincent O'Malley alongside esteemed iwi historians, NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana recounts the events that unfolded in the Bay of Plenty and their far-reaching consequences for future generations of New Zealanders. NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana is centered on two key encounters: the Battle of Pukehinahina Gate Pā and the Battle of Te Ranga. Extended interviews and extra scenes are also available, along with an accompanying podcast series.

NEW. The fifth chapter of this series recounts the events that unfolded in the Bay of Plenty and their far-reaching consequences for future generations. Made with the support of NZ On Air.

02/04/2024

"We know that there were multiple atrocities committed here, and it was a brutal, bloody and awful affair, and I think it's time New Zealand fronted up to that history"

In 1864, about 300 Māori defended the site from more than 1000 invading British soldiers.

17/11/2023

Dr Vincent O'Malley has been awarded the Humanities Aronui Medal for his contribution to the research, knowledge, and public understanding of New Zealand history, particularly of the New Zealand Wars and Māori-Pākehā relations throughout the nineteenth century.

Dr Vincent O'Malley has been awarded the Humanities Aronui Medal for his contribution to the research, knowledge, and public understanding of New Zealand history, particularly of the New Zealand Wars and Māori-Pākehā relations throughout the nineteenth century.

04/11/2023

Invasion and Resistance: Facing up to Parihaka

November the 5th is a day of grief for Hon. Mahara Okeroa and Ockham Book Awards shortlisted author, Rachel Buchanan, whose tūpuna were on the whenua when th...

27/10/2023

Why we should care about commemorating the New Zealand Wars.

"We need to be big enough to remember those aspects of the past that are bloody and brutal,” historian Vincent O’Malley says.

19/09/2023

This is Dr Vincent O’Malley.

He has recently given evidence on our behalf in Stafford v Attorney-General.

Dr O’Malley is a professional historian and a director of HistoryWorks, a public history consultancy in Wellington that specialises in the Treaty of Waitangi and related matters concerning historical Crown and Māori relationships.

He has a BA (Hons) in History (1st Class) from the University of Canterbury and a PhD in New Zealand Studies from Victoria University of Wellington. He is the author, co-author or co-editor of several nonfiction books addressing aspects of New Zealand history and especially the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori-Crown relations historically.

For the purposes of our case, Dr O’Malley was asked to address a number of instrumental questions, for example:

👉 Did the Crown reserve 15,100 acres of land for the benefit of the customary owners of the land obtained by the Crown following the 1845 Spain award? If not, how much land did the Crown actually reserve?

👉 Did the Crown exclude the pā, urupā and cultivations from the land obtained by the Crown following the 1845 Spain award?

👉 What was the impact of the loss of land on the customary owners? What evidence is there of the socioeconomic conditions in which they lived after 1845 and up to the present day?

He also prepared and presented meticulous reply evidence to the Crown witnesses.

Dr O’Malley is a pre-eminent New Zealand historian. We are thankful for his skill and knowledge in support of this kaupapa.

Ngā mihi Dr O’Malley.

26/08/2023

USC Dornsife Center for Advanced Genocide Research