Parihaka

Parihaka is a historic site and pā in the South Taranaki District of New Zealand, located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of New Plymouth. The settlement consists of several carved meeting houses standing on open ground between grassy hills and the nearby sea.

In the 1860s, Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi founded the village as a center of nonviolent resistance against the confiscation of Māori land. Colonial forces invaded in November 1881 and arrested the leaders, but the community endured and their methods influenced later movements worldwide.

The name comes from the Māori language and refers to fields where manuka grows, plants that still dot the surrounding hillsides today. Descendants of the original families continue to live here, maintaining the meeting houses and welcoming visitors who want to learn about peaceful resistance.

The site sits along a remote coastal road, and visitors should check local protocols before arriving because it remains an inhabited Māori community. Guided tours are usually arranged in advance and provide context that helps travelers experience the place with respect.

When soldiers marched in during 1881, they were met by hundreds of children singing songs, a gesture that moved even some of the officers. This moment is still mentioned in accounts of the visit today and shows the resolve of the community to practice nonviolence.