KEY POINTS:
A provocative new tourism venture opening in Christchurch today will confront the impact of colonisation on Maori, but its creators insist it is not designed as a "guilt trip" for Pakeha.
Rotorua's Tamaki brothers hope the multimillion-dollar Tamaki Heritage Village and "Lost In Our Own Land" experience, re-enacting life from the early to mid 1800s, will begin to remove some of the "ignorance" around the history of relations between Maori and Pakeha in New Zealand.
Set in 10ha of recreated Maori villages in Christchurch's Ferrymead Heritage Park, the theatrical experience is unlike anything seen before in New Zealand, said Mike Tamaki.
"The fact is we are actually taking a portion of our history out of time and totally re-enacting the coming together of two cultures."
The story, played out by a cast of 48, includes themes such as the "traumatic" impact on Maori of the musket introduced by European settlers.
"Their whole mindset changed. And some of the things that slipped in were things like dictatorship and greed and a massive onslaught took place."
Mr Tamaki said people were shocked when told how many Maori died during that warfare.
"And then straight after that we had the diseases introduced into New Zealand and that wiped out almost two-thirds of Maori during that period. And then straight after that you had the New Zealand Wars. Yet above all that, Maori still survive today."
Mr Tamaki said he wanted Pakeha to go away from the experience with a greater understanding, not feeling stigmatised.
"It most certainly isn't about laying guilt or blame at the feet of any culture or people. It's purely and simply re-enacting the past," Mr Tamaki said.
"In one instance Maori are fighting Maori. People don't just see Maori and Pakeha fighting. It affects all people differently."
Arna Wahl Davies was among those who got a sneak preview of the experience this week and said it was very different to most Maori cultural experiences on offer. She considered it more entertaining than educational.
"I wasn't offended or anything like that. It is a really good way to teach history. I think people will find it interesting."
Dr Rawiri Taonui, head of the Maori and Indigenous Studies at Canterbury University, said the impact of colonisation had to be presented in an "honest but diplomatic manner".
"On one hand, you don't want to over-emphasise the negative in a way that alienates and is divisive. On the other hand, you don't want to sweep things under the carpet. The thing to do is to be able to learn the lessons and move forward."
Most Pakeha were now able to acknowledge the effects of it.
The 3 1/2 hour experience will cost an adult $120.
