Media Releases

New season of Stolen Lands retraces a Highlander’s journey to Aotearoa and the lasting legacy of land and loss among Māori

Released at 11:54 am on 11 August 2025

We see a coastline of New Zealand. On the right is the land; on the left is the ocean; above are clouds. Golden text in the middle reads: "STOLEN LANDS A HIGHLANDER'S QUEST."

Photo: RNZ

Stolen Lands: A Highlander’s Quest is a video series exploring the Highland Clearances and the fall of Clan Donald, tracing the forces that drove Hector MacDonald from Scotland to Aotearoa. As he builds a life among Māori, colonial law and land loss begin to fracture hard-won alliances. Across five episodes, this season reveals how two histories of displacement collided and shaped the land we know today. The series was filmed in various locations around the Horowhenua region, including Ōtaki, Levin and Foxton. It was also partially filmed in London and Scotland, including Inverness, the Isle of Skye, the Isle of Coll, Stirling and Edinburgh.

Visually rich and meticulously researched, the series brings to life the reality of 19th-century Aotearoa—from bustling whaling stations to the tensions of the Native Land Court. It’s a story of survival, connection, and consequence, where the bonds between people and whenua are tested again and again. This season uncovers a chapter of New Zealand history through one man's journey—finding home, and watching it change under colonial rule.

RNZ’s Māori Commissioner Jana Te Nahu Owen says the new season is a fascinating perspective on early immigration to Aotearoa, through the eyes of a displaced Highlander.
 
“This new season goes beyond the themes of land and identity explored in the first season, delving deeper into the relationships between early Scottish settlers and Māori. It aims to deepen our understanding of their union, the shared values and rich cultural exchange between manuhiri and tangata whenua, brought to life through the use of both Gaelic and te reo Māori, highlighting this important chapter in Aotearoa’s history."
 
Available at rnz.co.nz/video from 3pm today. Made with support from NZ On Air.