Review: Toitū te Whenua, by Lauren Keenan
In some parts of Aotearoa, history is very close to the surface. If you know where to look, shadows on the land tell the story of the series of conflicts from more than a century ago which helped shape this country on a cultural and political level. These are the sites of the battles of Te Riri Pākehā — the New Zealand Wars, which took place around the North Island, but particularly in the north, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Te Tairāwhiti, from the mid- to late 1800s.
Historian and author Lauren Keenan (Te Āti Awa ki Taranaki, Te Ātiawa o Te Waka a Māui) has a particular interest in the wars. Her debut adult novel, The Space Between, published to acclaim in 2024, took a unique and human look at the early days of the first Taranaki War through the eyes of two women, one Māori and one Pākehā. Keenan’s historical knowledge and her evident writing skill make her an ideal person to create this fascinating and accessible guide to not only the events of the wars but to the people who were involved in them, and the places and physical evidence that remain.
At some sites there are the clear remnants of pā, such as at Ruapekapeka in the inland Bay of Islands, or surviving buildings such as churches and the Cameron Blockhouse near Whanganui; sometimes there are memorials (which Keenan warns can be ‘cringe-worthy at best and offensive at worst’); some sites have modern-day interpretation, and elsewhere there are just fields or hills or little sign at all of the significant events which occurred there.
This book will help even those with only a passing knowledge of the wars to engage more deeply with the events that occurred. It doesn’t contain a blow-by-blow account of every engagement — you’ll have to wait for Derek Leask’s Atlas of the New Zealand Wars (AUP), released in April, for that — but Keenan gives enough of an outline of each battle or campaign for readers to understand its significance.
Keenan’s engaging descriptions are what we have come to expect in these more enlightened days of historical reportage: ones in which the actions and reactions of both Pākehā and Māori are represented, as accurately as possible through the foggy lens of historic distance. She writes clearly and with an eye for interesting and salient detail, not only of past events but how sites are presented now.
One of the best things about this book is its friendly and accessible tone; Keenan is not out to lecture or list, to be didactic or push an agenda. Another great aspect is the breakout boxes and panels which highlight key personalities, explore themes such as women and war, and discuss topics such as the difference between a redoubt and a stockade. It’s an easy book to dip in and out of, or you might find yourself sucked in for a more in-depth dive.
For those who want to visit the sites on the ground, there are maps and practical information on how to get there and where to park. But as Keenan says, this is also a book which can be used as an armchair guide, providing a concise but comprehensive overview of the series of conflicts.
There’s also an excellent section on the New Zealand Wars for children, which lists particular family-friendly sites. ‘All history is stories and it is these stories that bring the whenua alive,’ Keenan writes, helping to pass it on to younger generations, whose role it will be to keep this troubled heritage alive and the conversations around it happening. As the whakataukī says, whatungarongoaro te tangata, toitū te whenua — people come and go, but the land remains.
Sarah Ell is an author and editor of fiction and non fiction titles for children and adults, primarily on NZ history and natural history, and is based in Auckland. She has a Masters of Creative Writing (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland.
