Immersing ākonga in the history of the Battalion

A performance of The Battalion at Ōtaki College. Photo by Mark Coote.

A new resource from Māori theatre organisation

Te Rākau is helping kaiako navigate the complex social and historical themes of World War 2 in their own classrooms.

It centres on The Battalion by Māori playwright Helen Pearse-Otene, which Education Gazette explored in September last year at Ōtaki College.

The Battalion is a stage play about friendship, loyalty, madness and redemption – seen through the eyes of war veteran Paora Matene and relayed to his wayward young charges Rimini and George.

“It was written as a tohu whakamahara to the memory of my tūpuna tāne and their whanaunga and friends who served in World War 2 as members of 2NZEF, and in particular, the 28th (Māori) Battalion,” says Helen.

“I have vivid memories of sitting in silence next to my father, who was himself a veteran of Borneo and Vietnam, while he, my grandfather and his friends drank from glass flagons and swapped war stories that were funny, bleak, mundane, bittersweet, frightening, sad beyond measure, implausible yet true, and utterly moving.”

Sent back to their whānau in the ‘one cow town’ of Tamariri, Rimini and George aren’t interested in the locals or their family history – they just want to get back to the city.

It was the same for five young men in 1939. Drawn in by the excitement of war, they run away and join the 28th (Māori) Battalion.

“Since the play premiered in 2005, it has been presented throughout the motu in theatres, schools, wharekai, wharenui, youth justice centres, RSA halls, gymnasiums and other locations. I’m hopeful this education resource will help even more young people connect with the story,” says Helen.

During rehearsals for The Battalion at Ōtaki College, performers check in to see where everyone’s at and how people are feeling in a porowhita talking circle.

Biculturalism in the classroom

Around 140,000 New Zealanders served in World War 2, so it’s unsurprising many students who study the history recognise a personal or whānau connection to the topic.

These diverse experiences and cultural identities were at the front of Susan Battye’s mind in developing The Battalion education resource for Te Rākau.

“I’m hopeful that teachers and students alike can use this resource to deepen their understanding of the play. I try to give people a range of teaching material to create background and deepen the commitment of the young people involved,” says Susan.

“Why would you get young people to look at a story about war? It sounds maudlin. In reality, it’s character-forming ... it’s about people, it’s about sacrifice, it’s about why we choose to act.”

As an experienced educator, Susan is aware of the need for support for teachers who are beginning to introduce te ao Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural history into modern curriculum.

“The resource will help answer questions such as, ‘How should students from a range of backgrounds go about depicting the [Māori] characters? How do I interact with this play if I am not Māori? Do I have permission?’” says Susan.

“It provides a practical resource teachers can use to bridge any gaps in their knowledge or capacity, so they can get the best results and not overwhelm the essential essence of what is being said.”

History, social division, drama and healing

While originally devised as a play, the historical setting and cultural perspectives in The Battalion make it an ideal text for students of history, drama, Māori studies, English and social studies.

Te Rakau Theatre practitioners were there to support budding young actors from Ōtaki to rise to the challenge, and the stage.

“The exploits of the Māori Battalion hold an iconic place in te ao Māori; its members were heralded on the world stage at a time when Māori back home in Aotearoa were bearing the effects of colonisation,” says Te Rākau director, Jim Moriarty MNZM.

“Some would argue some of those effects have only worsened for our rangatahi today. This resource is going to help young New Zealanders and their teachers examine the impact of history on our current society, not to mention contemporary issues like mental health, justice, and authority.

“Telling this story is one way to hon  our the whānau who gave their service and their lives to ensure we can retain our liberty and freedoms. Lest we forget.”

 Find more information at terakau.org/rauemi(external link)

Education Gazette explores theatre Māori at Ōtaki College

In 2022, Te Rākau Theatre worked with the Ōtaki community and Ōtaki College to reinvigorate teachings on Māori history, bringing the past into the future in their production of The Battalion.

For four months rangatahi worked diligently alongside Jim Moriarty and practitioners from
Te Rākau to deliver five breathtaking performances of the play, showcasing the abundance of talent in the Kāpiti region. 

Kaiako Tamsin Dashfield-Speight spoke about the students’ dedication to the piece as she watched them rehearse during their morning and lunch breaks every day prior to the opening night.

Read more in, Theatre Māori breathes life into history and whakapapa(external link)