MOKA, MUSKETS & MAYHEM!

'This Moka is brother to Wharerahi and Rewa, a daring, impudent, self- willed savage, of considerable influence in the way of mischief, possessing, I believe, not one good quality.'  - Archdeacon Williams. 

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Interactive Historical Novel

 

A major work, easily exceeding the requirements of a PhD thesis, the novel Moka, Muskets and Mayhem! is intended to be an innovative pedagogical educational platform; presenting early mid 19th century New Zealand history through the eyes of influential Māori chief Moka Te Kaingamatā. 

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This is an interactive novel which will include re-enactments, interviews (with academics, kaumatua/elders, and uri/descendants of characters from within the novel), waiata/songs, and art.

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Support for our research 

 

In this novel, the author, Brent Kerehona, proposes a theory that Moka did not sign Te Tiriti o Waitangi (despite history books stating otherwise) and provides evidence to support this argument. The following responses to Kerehona's research can be viewed below: 

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'You have done some in-depth research in regard to the project that you have set yourself to complete....On the way many stones have needed to be overturned to reveal the hidden secrets beneath them and hopefully some of them returned to their former positions.' - Hone Sadler (Master of Māori Studies) University of Auckland (Retired). 

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'Interestingly, sustained research by Moka descendent, Brent Kerehona, established that, contrary to the assumptions of other writers, Moka did not sign Te Tiriti at all. Moka thus supported his verbal objections with a concrete refusal to in any way legitimise something to which he objectedand strongly rejected. For Moka, this was a matter of chiefly principle and honour; rangatiratanga and its ascendancy over all...' - Dr Ben Pitman. 

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'Concerning the question of whether Moka actually signed the Treaty at all. I have looked again carefully at the document and I agree with you that there is no mark at all in the place where moka's mark ought to be, had he signed the document in the company with Rewa, as generally supposed.' - Dr Phil Parkinson.

 

'Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention, and we appreciate the amount of research you have clearly put into it. It certainly does appear, from what you have been able to find out so far, that Moka probably didn't sign this copy of the Treaty, even though his name was written on it.' - Dr Neill Atkinson (on behalf of Dr Bronwyn Dalley) NZ Ministry of Culture & Heritage.

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'Moka might have signed but you are right in saying that he did not append a cross - only his name is there. Rewa was a reluctant signer and one of the last to do so. Perhaps Moka did not follow him eh? Interesting....' - Dr Claudia Orange, Treaty expert.