Wallis, one of our members, former president and current Director of Studies, gave a very interesting talk entitled ” The Great South Road to War”. She illustrated the talk with photos and illustrations of the time.

The construction of the Great South Road from Drury to Rangiriri in 1862-3 was for the ready movement of troops southward. The settler government pushed Maori off their lands and forced them from their pas and marae, in order to satisfy the settler demand for land. Maori had begun refusing to sell land, and this was the government’s illegal and unjust retaliation. October 28th is the day commemorating our NZ Land Wars.

Over 40 members attended this meeting via Zoom.