We had been exploring the function of New Zealand Drama and how it can heal, educate, entertain, or transform society through specific NZ plays and playwrights. We are specifically looking at how our past informs our lives today and who we are, how our ancestors created the path we walk today as young people. The purpose of the trip was to bring together the learning around Theatre Aotearoa and our cultural, local histories, and our unique whakapapa.

The Convert was set during a period of Maori Tribal Wars (pre-signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi 1831), ending just at the beginning of formalizing Trade deals with Maori (1834). The main character, Munro, a British lay preacher arrived in New Zealand in 1831 into a newly formed colony. His past was drawn into question early in the film, along with his faith, and we discovered later he was a former British Army soldier who fought in ‘wars’ that killed Maori. In the film Munro finds himself caught in a battle between two Maori tribes and due to his past and moral compass, has to make a choice about which side he is on.

The storyline shows the differences between the life of European settlers and how Maori lived, along with the superiority and authority the settlers had towards the Maori, and this was a poignant moment for some of us. The director’s portrayal of morality within both cultures in the film, and the racism and segregation that occurred to Maori and some European cultures by the British, helped us to step back and begin to explore perspectives beyond what we perhaps have been told or learned. This film has helped us to understand that our past does impact our current day; that our whakapapa or genealogy and the hardships and lack of justice and respect our tupuna experienced, does have an impact on how we understand our history.

We highly recommend this film to all interested in learning more about our cultural history.