Leah Bell and Waimarama Anderson

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Leah Bell and Waimarama Anderson

Ngāti Uekaha, Ngāti Maniapoto

In 2014, after learning about the 1864 Battle of Ōrākau between Māori and British troops, a group of students from Ōtorohanga College began a campaign calling for a day to nationally recognise the New Zealand Wars of the 19th century. 

Led by Waimarama Anderson, Leah Bell and Zac Henry, the students gathered a petition of 13,000 signatures calling for a national day of commemoration.

In 2016, Leah Bell presented the petition to the Māori Affairs Select Committee at Parliament – as you can hear in this radio programme excerpt. On 9 March 2018, the first-ever, national New Zealand Wars commemoration was held at Waitangi, with the Ōtorohanga students taking part in the ceremonies.

Listen to a radio interview with Waimarama Anderson and Leah Bell on RNZ. 

Watch as the petition is presented to Parliament. 

Image: Leah Bell and Waimarama Anderson, 2018 (Courtesy of RNZ).