Abstract

This article explores the waiata tangi (lament), commonly known as‘EPāTo Hau.’Written by Rangiamoa of Ngāti Apakura after theattrocities committed by British soldiers at Rangiaowhia. It seeksto describe settler colonialism in terms of elimination, greif anddispossession. It argues that the waiata understands theseconcepts in very deep ways. The research utilises WhakaaroBased Philsophy and method to dissect the waiata for itsphilosophy and theory. This is done by exploring the literature onwaiata, haka, and cultural memory as indigenous text andanalysing the famous waiata tangi (lament) by Rangiamoa called‘EPāTo Hau’that was written in the aftermath of Rangiaowhia. Abackground on the events at Rangiaowhia is provided.Theoretically, it outlines the case for refering to‘settlercolonialism’as‘invader colonialism’and the relationship ofremembering to resistence. It also supports the call for termingthe events at Rangiaowhia a‘war crime’as recently discussed inthe media.