The New Zealand Herald's Whenua Project comprehensively explores the historical relationship between Maori, New Zealanders, and the land. At its heart is an interactive map, crafted by the Herald's data team, which reveals the patterns of land ownership across the country.
My role was to help tell the diverse historical stories of various iwi, providing context to the data. Whenua: Our Land, Our History tackles tough questions that some might shy away from because they touch on Aotearoa’s complex colonial legacy.
This conversation has become even more charged with the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill and the push to rename government departments in English. Understanding these issues is crucial for grasping our history, encapsulated by the Māori proverb “ka mua, ka muri: walking backwards into the future.” To face what lies ahead as a nation, we must first know our past.
