For this first time, there will be a national day of commemoration of the New Zealand Land wars.
The day of recognition, Rā Maumahara, came about after a students from Otorahanga High School went to a historic site and were so moved, they decided to set up a petition.
Leah Bell was one of the students involved in getting this petition off the ground. She tells about the long process to getting to this day.
Leah Bell and Waimarama Anderson presenting their petition to parliamentarians Photo: Supplied
