Today marks 133 years since the Maori settlement of Parihaka was invaded by colonial troops.
Parihaka, which sits beneath the western slopes of Mount Taranaki, was the centre of a passive resistance movement against the Crown in 1881 and led by the two prophets, Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi.
Events recognising what happened at Parihaka were held in Taranaki and Otago.
An organiser of the National Parihaka Day commemorations, Maata Wharehoka, was in Dunedin to remember the men from the village who were sent there as political prisoners.
She said even though a documentary made in 2011 was raising more awareness, it was important for Parihaka descendants to spread the history of what happened.
Ms Wharehoka said they felt that to properly tell the story of Parihaka, they needed to travel with the film to various towns. She has sent others from the settlement around New Zealand to teach more people.