John Parsons, Te Wetini and the Battle of Māhoetahi
Here in Taranaki I’ve been following the lives of my ancestors. I’ve traced their journey to New Plymouth aboard the...
Tag: War
The Final Front: The British Approach Te Arei
Up until now, my Taranaki adventures have focused on the story of my ancestors the Parsons – their journey to...
What Happened at Waireka
When I last left my ancestors the Parsons, they had just stepped off the Timandra and into their new lives...
The Cultural Misunderstanding that Killed: Featherston at War
There’s been a lot of attention in the media recently about detention camps or internment camps, how they should be...
The Stormy Shore of New Plymouth
We had finally made it, Auntie and I, to the place where our forebears had first become Kiwis. Here we...
The Rise and Fall of Kaiapoi
Predictably, as I headed south on my great road trip the weather got worse and worse. From bright sun and...
Siege of Pukekohe East
Heading down from Auckland once again, this time in a shiny new Jeep, I searched for historic places to hit...
Mataura Falls and the Fall of Te Puoho
A family member needed to make a day trip to Invercargill, so I generously offered to drive and even extended...
The Siege of Huriawa
When last we left my Waitangi Day adventure, I had just finished my tour of the little cemetery perched atop...
Old Shells and Measles Hell on the South Otago Coast
An adventureless morning found me once again occupied by my habit of perusing local maps for interesting places. Scrolling down...