Ngā Mōrehu: The Survivors

Ngā Mōrehu: The Survivors presents the oral histories of five Māori women who descended from Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki, a 19th century Māori religious and resistance leader. Through extensive interviews conducted in the 1970s, these women share their experiences and connections to the Ringatu faith that Te Kooti established. The book pairs transcribed narratives with historical photographs, creating a record of both personal and communal memory spanning multiple generations. The women's accounts trace their families' involvement with Te Kooti's movement and the ways their faith shaped their lives through the 20th century. Each woman's testimony stands as an independent chapter, yet together they form an interconnected history of spirituality, survival, and cultural preservation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Their stories describe childhood memories, family traditions, and the passing down of Ringatu practices. The work represents a vital intersection between oral tradition and written history, exploring how religious faith, cultural identity, and personal memory combine to sustain communities through periods of significant change. Through these women's voices, the book examines the enduring impact of Indigenous spiritual movements in modern times.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Judith Binney's overall work: Readers consistently note Binney's thorough research methods and her balanced presentation of both Māori and European perspectives in New Zealand's colonial history. What readers liked: - Integration of oral histories with archival sources - Clear explanations of complex historical events - Detailed descriptions of Māori-Pākehā interactions - Inclusion of previously untold Māori narratives What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Complex terminology that can be difficult for general readers - Length and detail level of some works can be overwhelming Ratings: - Goodreads: "Redemption Songs" averages 4.3/5 from 28 reviews - "Encircled Lands" averages 4.5/5 from 15 reviews One reader on Goodreads noted: "Her attention to detail and respect for both written and oral sources sets a new standard for historical writing in New Zealand." Another commented: "The academic language made it challenging to get through, but worth the effort for the insights provided." Note: Limited online reviews available as many of her works were academic publications primarily reviewed in scholarly journals.

Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History by Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, and Aroha Harris This comprehensive history of Māori spans pre-colonial times through modern day with first-hand accounts and archival materials.

Once Were Warriors by Alan Duff The narrative follows a contemporary Māori family in urban New Zealand, examining cultural displacement and identity through multiple voices.

Ask That Mountain: The Story of Parihaka by Dick Scott The book documents the peaceful resistance movement at Parihaka through oral histories and historical records.

The New Net Goes Fishing by Witi Ihimaera These collected stories present Māori experiences across different generations and locations in New Zealand through multiple perspectives.

He Kōrero: Words Between Us by Alison Jones and Kuni Jenkins The text examines early encounters between Māori and Pākehā through letters, diaries, and historical documents.

🔸 Judith Binney's interviews with Māori women elders (kuia) for this book took place over several years in the 1980s, capturing rare first-hand accounts of life in Tūhoe communities. 🔸 The book's photographs, many taken in the early 1900s, provide unique visual documentation of Ringatū faith practices and the daily lives of Māori communities in the Urewera region. 🔸 The women featured in the book were all followers of the Ringatū faith, established by Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki in the 1860s after his prophetic visions while imprisoned on the Chatham Islands. 🔸 Author Judith Binney learned to speak te reo Māori to conduct her research and was given the name "Tomairangi o te Aroha" (the gentle rain of love) by the Tūhoe people. 🔸 The book's title "Ngā Mōrehu" translates to "The Survivors," referring both to the physical survival of these women through decades of change and to their role in preserving traditional spiritual and cultural practices.