Radio War Nerd #272 — The New Zealand Wars

Cannibalism is the least interesting aspect, except for those stuck in culture wars

Your guest was pretty representative of official NZ discourse on the NZ wars (or as I prefer to call it the Land Wars - which is more accurate because that was what it was about). He touched on Ratana but not on the role of Maori in the labour movement from the 20s on (esp the freezing works) where they brought, along with the Irish, a militant edge - until the mass unemployment of the 80s (which is ironically when the waitangi tribunal period begins.

As I’m sure you’re aware ChessGuevara (because of your vast knowledge of Maori culture, of course) that the act of cannibalism was practiced as an almost religious ceremony in which the consumption of the enemy’s flesh was seen as consuming their Mana, and was never done on a whim or as any attempt at sustenance. In fact, it was extremely rare even at the height of these wars or any wars before. And if you have any sense left, and want to learn more about these terrible cannibals who haunt your dreams, look up the storming of gate Pa. in that battle the demonic Maori treated many wounded British regulars who became trapped and left behind after an unsuccessful attack on the Maori position. They did not boil them up and dance around a big black cauldron, as the wounded British were seen as brave warriors. Cannibalism was only practiced between rivals or amongst groups caught in a blood feud; in a way it was to acknowledge the Mana (essence, power etc.) of the defeated. I know you may see it as barbaric and savage as you put it, but anything you can put forth as such, be it done by the Maori or any other subjugated peoples, pales in comparison to the wholesale slaughter committed by the European powers. Surely you can see the logic in that, right? So, when John or whoever it may be, sympathises with these ‘savages’ you’re so scared of, remember who is by far the more bloodthirsty and empirically evil in the real world. Oh, and by the way I’m only half-Maori so don’t be to afraid, sweetie xxx

ty im my lexicon Navalny deserves a nickname im currently debating if it should be mach4 or mach5

I enjoyed the episode as usual, but Dolan's bending-over-backwards efforts to indulge savage ways is beginning to grate. I think your reaction would have been quite different if the British had suddenly started practicing cannibalism, and your condescending mumbling that it's OK when the Maori do it sounded silly. You're not working in a college now, no one will fire you for calling a cannibal a cannibal. And BTW there are excellent reasons for cannibalism to be taboo, kuru foremost among them, as many of your beloved people-consumers found out to their dismay.

Excellent episode but a the guest was a bit muffled.

Great emu war episode please

Excellent guest. Created an intuitive feel for the environment of the place

Can you do an episode on the War of the Ring?

John's story of his friends father tearfully confessing to being Irish reminded me of the Rab C. Nesbitt episode where Rab's long-lost relation, having experienced contact with Rab, has to tearfully confess to his very middle class wife that they are, in fact, Scum.

Kia ora, looking forward to this one!