After we finished learning about the slave trade triangle, we moved on to peaceful resistance and marches. An example is the significance of Parihaka. In May 1879 the colonial government moved to occupy fertile land, it was also been declared confiscated in the 1860s. Te Whiti and Tohu established tactics of non-violent resistance.
Anyway, throughout the topic of peaceful resistance, we were presented with the song "Parihaka" by Tim Finn and The Herbs. For this blog post, we had to answer questions related to the song.
- What is the main message of this song? The song tells the story of the Parihaka peaceful protests that occurred in Taranaki Parihaka.
- What line explains their passive resistance method? There are some lines in the song that indicates their passive resistance method. For example; They gather still, the clouds of Taranaki, his children's children wearing the white plume, the spirit of nonviolence.
- What does 'you can't pull out the roots' refer to? For me, I think that this phrase means that whatever, they do the people they have captured. They will never be able to take out their culture or what they are on the inside.
- Give evidence of their determination. When they were faced by armed men, they showed determination to protest without any violence. Yet, they greeted them with courtesy, and they responded with violence.
- How does this song show the significance of Parihaka? The song has shown the significance of Parihaka in several ways. For example, it stated that its presence will continue in the forthcoming years. Moreover, continue to be an inspiration for peaceful resistance, as the salt march and the Selma to Montgomery march.
- What makes an event significant? A significant event would have an effect on people's lives and result in great change. Similarly to Parihaka.
- How many people are affected? Around 1,600 troops were affected as well as Te Whiti and Tohu were arrested.
- How long were people affected? The people were affected by roughly 150 years and more.
- To what extent are people affected? The people living in Parihaka were affected by being removed from their homes, shot and killed, arrested, women were even raped by the troops.
