Farewell Hazel
We were very sorry to hear of the recent passing of Dr Hazel Riseborough, on 8 January 2021 at Taupo, now aged 90. Hazel was a lovely person who felt, and lived, her love of history with a passion. She especially felt the hurts inflicted on Māori. Hazel and Danny worked together at Massey University in the 1990s, teaching two papers together – at least, Hazel taught the papers, Danny… Read more »
The Past from the Paepae
The paepae is the place on the marae where elders stand to deliver their speeches and, as it so happens, to present their versions of history. The paepae can be said to be the controlling site of all Māori knowledge, including knowledge of the past. Speeches are an oral process of course, delivered before a discriminating audience. How then do kaumātua bring to mind such knowledge / histories when delivering oratory from the paepae? … Read more »

Wars Without End
The conflicts against Māori did not end when the last shots were fired in 1872. Instead, they carried over into the courts and Parliament. The section explores New Zealand after the wars.
Visit Wars Without End
Global Native History
Covers the multiple and intersecting pasts of all native peoples around the world. This section explores the nature of this new and developing genre of history.
Visit Global Native HistoryDanny Keenan’s Published Works
Over the years, Danny (who is the writer of this site) has published widely on Māori and New Zealand history. His focus has mainly been Māori-State relations in the 19th Century, of which the New Zealand Land Wars were of course an important part. This section contains copies of Dr Keenan’s writings which you are free to access. Our hope is to eventually upload here everything that Danny has published to date.
Danny's Works
The Wars in Documents
This section brings together many of the important primary documents that help us to understand the origins and consequences of the New Zealand Wars.
Explore Documents
