This full length film script tells the story of Captain William Hobson, RN a native of Waterford in Ireland who became the founding Governor of New Zealand. It is based on research undertaken in both Ireland and New Zealand and tells the story of the founding treaty of New Zealand, the Treaty of Waitangi.
Captain William Hobson RN, First Governor of New Zealand and native of Waterford Ireland
overview
The film script of ‘A New Munster’ is divided into four broad sections, with a modern documentary style postlude. The action is set over a period from 1798 to the present day.
- Old Munster - a part of England’s oldest Colony - Ireland – and the events of the 1798 Uprising and the Act of Union between Britain and Ireland- (1801 and the early life of William Hobson- future Governor of New Zealand.
- Prelude to the founding of New Zealand, Britain’s last Colony and the selection of William Hobson from Waterford, Munster, as its first Governor.
- The Treaty of Waitangi and The founding of New Zealand (the ‘New Munster’) and until the death of Hobson 1840-1842
- Colonial New Zealand and the New Zealand Wars of 1863-4 the loss of Maori land and the breaking of Hobson’s Treaty.
- Postlude: The Maori Renaissance and the revival of the principles of the Treaty from the 1980’s to the present day.
Hook Lighthouse, South of Wexford and Waterford, Hobson's birthplace
short synopsis
britain's first colony
1. the 'old munster; ireland 1798-1801
The Battle of New Ross 1798
The film starts with the 1798 ‘French- style’ uprising in Ireland, its failure and the consequent Court Martial and the transportations of insurgents. Particular focus is given to the massacre of Protestant families at Scullabogue in Wexford. This becomes a symbol of the tragedy of the revolutionary methods in their attempt to inaugurate justice in Ireland. The principal character of the first section is Samuel Hobson, the father of the future first Governor of New Zealand, who is involved in trying to protect the Protestant Community of Waterford from the uprising. As a lawyer and freeman of Waterford, he is seen to seek justice and peace in a country prone to violence and unrest. The section culminates in the Act of Union of Great Britain and Ireland of 1801, which Samuel Hobson supports, and in young William Hobson deciding to join the Royal Navy for a life at sea.
Memorial to the 1798 Uprising Co Wexford
2. britain's last colony:
prelude to the founding of new zealand
The debate on the repeal of Slavery, House of Commons May 1832
The legal and international background to the founding of New Zealand is seen through the parliamentary debates concerning the abolition of Slavery in 1833 and the consequent desire of the Colonial office to establish its final colony by free consent and partnership. The Minister at the Colonial Office, Lord Glenelg, himself a former missionary, considers reports of missionary successes in New Zealand and expresses the hope that the colonisation of New Zealand will herald a new departure in the life of the Empire. This culminates in the appointment of William Hobson by the Colonial Office as the first Consul to New Zealand, and the personal struggle he experiences in accepting his first political post, as he remembers his childhood experiences of tumult in Ireland. Encouraged by his wife, he decides to accept the posting.
Lord Glenelg, Secretary to Colonies and former Missionary Captain William Hobson RN Lord Normanby Colonial Office
3. the treaty of waitangi and the founding of new zealand
Celebration of Waitangi Day, Bay of Islands New Zealand
Captain William Hobson arrives in New Zealand and, with the help of the Anglican Missionaries at the Bay of Islands, immediately organises a meeting with Maori chiefs. The meeting is a success and gives birth to New Zealand’s founding treaty, the Treaty of Waitangi through which Maori chiefs voluntarily enter into a relationship with the British Crown and the country becomes a British Colony. The Treaty Hobson forges in this ‘New Munster’ (the name he gives to one of the New Zealand provinces) operates as a foundation for the infant colony, but he stresses of Hobson’s work result in his illness soon after the successful brokering of this agreement. The arrival from Australia of his wife Eliza and his young family encourage him to continue his work. He succeeds in establishing the rule of law and in creating the basis of his new Capital at Auckland, as well as thwarting possible French attempts to annexe South Island for the French Empire. The opposition he receives, however, both from the settlers and his own staff as well as the blurred testimony of the Missionaries as they seek to join the land grab makes him feel increasingly isolated in his role. He makes a final attempt to spread the idealism of his Treaty with some new chiefs in the Waikato heartland, but the news that some government buildings have been set on fire prove to be too much for him, and, shortly after returning to Auckland, he dies a premature death.
Signatures on the Treaty of Waitangi Maori Chiefs signing Treaty Treaty House Waitangi
4 the new zealand wars of 1863-4
the loss of maori land and the breaking of hobson's treaty
Colonial Parliament Wellington New Zealand
A gap of twenty years sees the idealism of the Treaty finally evaporate as British Soldiers are now involved in invading the Waikato Maori heartland. While the New Zealand Assembly invokes the same Act of Suppression of Rebellion, which was used to put down the Irish Rebellion of 1798, it passes An Act of Settlements to clear Maori land and to plant thousands of British settlers in the Waikato, Thames, Taranaki and Waitara. Attempts by Politician J E Fitzgerald to remind the Assembly of its Treaty obligations fail, and the Armies under General Cameron are seen fighting Maori tribes at the Battles of Rangiowhia, Gate Pa and Te Ranga. To the audience, the sad events of the massacre of Scullabogue seen in the old Munster seem to be repeating themselves in New Zealand. Whare, a young Maori convert who had been seen earlier full of faith and enthusiasm for the Gospel at Missionary meetings, witnesses the brutality of these events, and, as a consequence, turns against the faith given to him by the missionaries. He travel across country to Gisborne where he symbolically returns his gospel portion to Revs Henry and William Williams, telling them he will now seek a faith that will help him and his people guard their Maori lands.
General Cameron Leader of British Army The Battle of Gate Pa Heni Te Kirikaramu Maori Leader
5. postlude: the maori renaissance of the 1980's to the present day
Whina Cooper, Leader of the Maori Renaissance
A documentary postlude is given to the film, which brings the events of the Treaty into the modern era. The story of the Maori renaissance is told, using documentary footage and music. It focuses on the Hikoi or long march of Whina Cooper to the New Zealand parliament in the 1980’s, where she is seen to demand that the Treaty promises are honoured, and that no more land is taken from Maori. The movement she instigates succeeds in making the Treaty of Waitangi legal for the first time in over 100 years. and starts the process of healing between the Treaty partners, and their modern counterparts in the Maori tribes, the Government and the European and settler community in New Zealand. The film ends with an oration by the present Governor General at the grave of the first Governor general, as she states that the ideals that Hobson stood for are at last starting to regain their place in modern New Zealand society. Views of modern New Zealand’s cities and scenery are seen, now with its mix of Maori, Pacific, European and Asian peoples.
The Hikoi Long March of the Maori Renaissance The Grave of William Hobson Auckland The Gravestone of William Hobson
a new munster promotional video
a new munster film script
The text for the film script of A New Munster was researched in Ireland and New Zealand with help from Libraries and Museums by Cormac Brian O'Duffy. It is available for potential producers from this website
The insignia for New Munster, Province of New Zealand
Dr Cormac O'Duffy Researching 'A New Munster' film script in New Zealand