My reflections on the Waitangi Tribunal's role in leading conversations on our history, fifty years after its establishment. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

Today . . . Between the Lines: Recent Books in NZ Studies Author Charlotte Macdonald in conversation with @vomalley.bsky.social & Peter Cooke When: Wed 6 May 4.10–5.10pm Where: Stout Research Centre + Livestream www.wgtn.ac.nz/stout-centre... @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social @bwbnz.bsky.social #history

The new Powershop app is a total trainwreck. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/powershop...

I am taking part in a roundtable event at the Stout Research Centre on 6 May to discuss Charlotte Macdonald’s excellent recent book 'Garrison World: Redcoat Soldiers in New Zealand and across the British Empire'. Details and zoom link here: buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

Grateful to the protesters for reminding me I'm due for another booster soon.

The 2026 Featherston Booktown line-up is out! Catch last year's Waikato War talk with Tom Roa, Joanna Kidman, James Belich and Vincent O'Malley – now available to watch online: youtube.com/watch?v=cge9bTANZyc

The Auckland Writers Festival programme is out! Events with BWB authors include: Charlotte Macdonald, Vincent O'Malley, Asher Emanuel, Rebecca Macfie, Craig Renney and Max Harris. Book now: www.bwb.co.nz/events/bwb-aut...

Great to be taking part in the Auckland Writers Festival this year. Looks like a stellar lineup of writers. www.writersfestival.co.nz/programmes/e...

There's clearly no NZ political news or developments from the last couple of days that 1 News considers newsworthy.

Incredible that 1 News did not lead with the PM's leadership under threat.

Ka kite Michael King Writers Centre.

Awesome!

Remembering Rangiaowhia, 21 February 1864. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

Great to be here. And thanks to everyone who came along to my talk at Devonport Library last night.

Our session from the Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival last year on the invasion of Waikato is now available to view, featuring Joanna Kidman, Tom Roa, James Belich and me. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cge9...

In very good company here!

As my first talk at Devonport Library filled up very quickly, I have agreed to do a second session a few days later, on 22 February. Link to book free tickets here: events.humanitix.com/dr-vincent-o...

If you are in the area, get along to the Fred Graham exhibition on at Pātaka, Porirua, till 10 May. It's great. pataka.org.nz/whats-on/exh...

📢 Upcoming Event – Vincent O'Malley: Auckland and the Invasion of the Waikato 📢 Join Vincent O'Malley as he explores how the invasion of Waikato played out in Tāmaki Makaurau and the legacy it left behind. ⏰ 18 February, 6.30pm 📍 Devonport Library 📚 Free entry events.humanitix.com/dr-vinc...

Wonderful to see this recognition for Matua Tom Roa. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-year-...

A recap of some of the content from my newsletter launched in March. www.meetingplace.nz/2025/12/unse...

An important exhibition to see if you are near Ōtautahi this summer. Kā Whakatauraki: The Promises, at Christchurch Art Gallery, displays the ten deeds signed between 1844 and 1864 that saw 34.5 million acres pass out of Ngāi Tahu ownership. christchurchartgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/...

Especially relevant in NZ, where funding for the Archives NZ digitisation programme of official records was axed in 2024.

"any unjustified removal of Ngāti Whātua from their lands ‘will never be forgiven and never be forgotten’". Robin Hyde and Ōrākei. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

Marvellous! www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

'Garrison World explores the lives of soldiers, sailors and their families stationed in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the British empire in the nineteenth century.' In this new book trailer, Charlotte Macdonald introduces her latest book, 'Garrison World'! 🎥 @reverie_nzl #booktrailer #bwb

Huge outcome for Te Tau Ihu iwi. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

It has been fascinating to revisit Robin Hyde's brilliant reporting on government efforts to evict Ngāti Whātua from Ōrākei in the 1930s. These haven't been digitised for Papers Past yet. But I'll post a transcript of this one on my newsletter next week.

Congratulations to author Dame Claudia Orange on being a semifinalist for the 2026 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year! '... she continues to bring wisdom and clarity to national conversations.' Read the full citation on the awards website: nzawards.org.nz/awards/senio...

Read an extract from Charlotte Macdonald's new book, 'Garrison World: Redcoat Soldiers in New Zealand and across the British Empire', in the ODT! Pick up a copy of 'Garrison World' today from your local bookshop or through the BWB website. www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/maga...

Gift subscriptions are now available on my newsletter. Just check the box with 'This is a gift' and enter the email address for the recipient. buttondown.com/unsettling

150 years since the battle at Waerenga-ā-Hika www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu...

Fully support the universities in this. But if they are genuinely committed to ensuring "free public access to the research...taxes had funded" maybe those that limit access to electronic copies of theses to current staff or students could open them up to the public. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

"It’s deeply alarming...Why are they trying to reframe this history? We need to grapple with it.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

Diluting history curriculum risks 'leaving our past to chance' - Academic www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu...

The invasion of Parihaka, 5 November 1881. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

Māori academic warns draft curriculum erases children's rights to local histories www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

"yet another example of the hostility to history, humanities and social sciences that the current coalition Government has repeatedly demonstrated" www.thepost.co.nz/culture/3608...

"The curriculum is dishonest and it's regressive because it's not an honest reflection of our past" www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

If any teachers would like to share their thoughts on the draft social sciences curriculum through my newsletter send me a DM.

It's always important to know our histories, but now with the rise of populist politics, we really do need school students to understand. In article below @vomalley.bsky.social quotes Jim Bolger 'You cannot know who you are as a society unless you know your history' buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

Don't see the new Aotearoa NZ histories curriculum online yet. But Act are already crowing about having gutted it. community.scoop.co.nz/2025/10/new-...

Today marks the 190th anniversary of the signing of He Whakaputanga, along with being Te Pūtake o te Riri/He Rā Maumahara, the national day of commemoration for the NZ Wars. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

The Education Minister is due to announce a 'refreshed' social studies curriculum on Tuesday with the Aotearoa NZ histories curriculum likely to be significantly watered down. Jim Bolger's advocacy for facing up to out history will be trampled on if that is the case. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

The Otago Daily Times features an extract from ‘The Meeting Place: Māori and Pākehā Encounters, 1642–1840’ by Vincent O’Malley, focusing on early whaling stations and cross-cultural relationships in southern Te Waipounamu. 👉 Read the piece: www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/maga...

"It shouldn’t be underestimated just how significant it was that the leader of a right-wing political party, historically not exactly renowned for its embrace of Māori interests and causes, initiated the modern process of Treaty settlements." buttondown.com/unsettling/a...

Shame on this government for the deeply racist Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Amendment Act, just passed into law.

📣 Join Dr Vincent O’Malley at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato this Saturday for 'The Invasion of Waikato / Te Riri ki Tainui' – a free public talk marking He Rā Maumahara, our National Day of Remembrance for the New Zealand Wars. Book here: zurl.co/iOfW8

“A new modus operandi for Māori and Pākehā relations in the 21st century may draw at least in part on some of the lessons learned from the encounters that took place before 1840.” — Vincent O’Malley, from his new book The Meeting Place.

I'm giving a free public talk in Kirikiriroa Hamilton next week to mark Te Pūtake o te Riri – He Rā Maumahara, the national day of commemoration for the New Zealand Wars, along with some book signings at Poppies Hamilton. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...