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Vincent O'Malley

@vomalley.bsky.social
1.9K followers 323 following 415 posts

FRHistS FRSNZ PhD Historian and author of 'The New Zealand Wars', 'The Great War for New Zealand' and other works. www.meetingplace.nz buttondown.com/unsettling

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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 14h
An advance copy of this turned up the other day and it looks great. Due out from @bwbnz.bsky.social in November.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Te Awamutu Museum is holding a series of events between 21-23 October to mark Rā Maumahara, the national day of remembrance for the NZ Wars, including guided bus tours to Rangiaowhia and Ōrākau, a screening of Ka Whawhai Tonu, and a talk from me. Full details here. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
Rā Maumahara 2026 - Te Awamutu Events
Rā Maumahara, the national day of remembrance for the New Zealand Wars, is coming up on 28 October and Te Awamutu Museum have organised a series of free...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Good to see 1 News covering the staff cuts at Archives NZ and the National Library. www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/13/h...
1news.co.nz
Historian warns proposed job cuts will damage access to NZ's history
Historians and archivists warn the cuts could see backlogs grow and items go neglected, as the Government says restructuring is needed for financial sustainability.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
"it is not as if te Tiriti o Waitangi has a time limit on it. And neither does the obligation on the Crown to honour it." buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
Abolishing the Waitangi Tribunal and Cuts at Archives New Zealand and the National Library
The ACT party’s newly-announced policy to abolish the Waitangi Tribunal once it has completed hearing all historical inquiries may be deeply ill-informed....
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
"As a country we pretty much suck at valuing and protecting our cultural heritage and this is just the latest example.” newsroom.co.nz/2026/09/07/g...
newsroom.co.nz
Government slammed over job cuts at National Library
Historians count the cost of a proposed restructure at the National Library and Archives NZ
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
I've opened up some recent newsletter posts and am giving away some books. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
Unsettling archives access and a book giveaway
This newsletter was launched in March 2025. In my first post, I talked about how I saw this as an extension of my goal to help raise awareness of Aotearoa...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
A piece I wrote the other day about AI and stolen books. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
Stolen Books
When it comes to AI, call me a sceptic. It doesn’t help that five of my books were illegally downloaded by Anthropic for AI ‘training’ purposes according to...
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Andrew @openpolicy.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
An ethical stance like this is expensive as well as honourable: “It's so wrong. Our role is to keep books alive, to keep them in the world. We're book lovers. We want books for the good of humanity, not just to transfer knowledge for private profit, going into building LLM machines.” 👏🏻
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Bridget Williams Books @bwbnz.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Come along to Unity Books Wellington at 4pm this Sunday for an in-store talk between Charlotte Macdonald and Richard Shaw, authors of the popular books Garrison World and The Good Settler.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
A new edition of 'The Treaty of Waitangi Companion', to be published in November, includes coverage of a range of topics since the first edition in 2010 (now out of print), including the Treaty Principles Bill, Takutai Moana, and teaching Aotearoa NZ history. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
The Treaty of Waitangi Companion
I am pleased to share the news that a new edition of The Treaty of Waitangi Companion will be published by Bridget Williams Books this November. To pre-order...
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The Broke Bonsai Bloke me my coffee & bonsai🇳🇿🌳✂️🌲☕️ @memycoffeenbonsai.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Just read the latest Unsettling newsletter from @vomalley.bsky.social Great news on the updated 2nd edition coming this year. Will include some big events up to 2025. www.bwb.co.nz/books/the-tr...
bwb.co.nz
The Treaty of Waitangi Companion - BWB Bridget Williams Books
Weaving together voices, documents and images from centuries of cooperation, conflict and change, The Treaty of Waitangi Companion ranges from first contact between Māori and Europeans to today’s deba...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I assumed Winston named them after people from his childhood. 😄
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Some photos from the launch of NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika last Saturday and links to additional content. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika
Last Saturday I travelled up to Tāmaki Makaurau to attend the premiere of NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika at the iconic Capitol Cinema on Dominion Road...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
On this day, 9 July 1863: Māori communities living in South Auckland are driven from their lands, three days ahead of the invasion of Waikato. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
Evicting Māori: Grey’s 9 July 1863 Proclamation
On 9 July 1863 a proclamation was issued by the government addressed to 'the natives of Mangere, Pukaki, Ihumatao, Te Kirikiri, Patumahoe, Pokeno, and...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Here's the trailer for NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika, available this Saturday from 12pm. www.rnz.co.nz/video/nz-war...
rnz.co.nz
NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika
SATURDAY, 12PM. NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika combines the accounts of iwi historians and Dr Vincent O'Malley to tell the story of Waerenga-a-Hika.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
A great thing about Archives NZ moving into the Katherine Mansfield reading room in Wellington is they have now aligned their hours, including opening Saturday mornings from this month. But the other ANZ offices remain open 4 hours a day, which is a problem. www.archives.govt.nz/about-us/wha...
archives.govt.nz
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
The New Zealand Gazette Index is a real gamechanger that is going to open up this important resource for a whole range of people doing research on anything from genealogy through to Treaty claims, theses, or whatever. A bit like Papers Past has done for newspapers. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
New Zealand Gazette Index
Back in 2022, when Archives New Zealand released its disastrous Collections search tool, many researchers despaired (or called for an inquiry). Collections...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
The New Zealand Gazette Index is a real gamechanger that is going to open up this important resource for a whole range of people doing research on anything from genealogy through to Treaty claims, theses, or whatever. A bit like Papers Past has done for newspapers. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
New Zealand Gazette Index
Back in 2022, when Archives New Zealand released its disastrous Collections search tool, many researchers despaired (or called for an inquiry). Collections...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
"Far from being hierarchical, Māori decision-making bodies were far too democratic as far as some European observers were concerned, with entire communities of men, women and children involved in debating and deliberating on the issues of the day." buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
George Grey’s ‘Plan of Native Government’
Over the years I have spent a fair bit of time researching Māori institutions of self-government, particularly in the nineteenth century. My first book, way...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
My reflections on the Waitangi Tribunal's role in leading conversations on our history, fifty years after its establishment. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
The Waitangi Tribunal: Leading Conversations on Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The Waitangi Tribunal turned fifty last October, marking a half century since the passage of the Treaty of Waitangi Act in 1975. I posted about this at the...
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Stephen Clarke @stephenclarkenz.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Today . . . Between the Lines: Recent Books in NZ Studies Author Charlotte Macdonald in conversation with @vomalley.bsky.social & Peter Cooke When: Wed 6 May 4.10–5.10pm Where: Stout Research Centre + Livestream www.wgtn.ac.nz/stout-centre... @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social @bwbnz.bsky.social #history
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
The new Powershop app is a total trainwreck. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/powershop...
nzherald.co.nz
App's new energy bill estimates stun Powershop customers
Meridian encourages worried users to talk things through with the energy provider's team.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
I am taking part in a roundtable event at the Stout Research Centre on 6 May to discuss Charlotte Macdonald’s excellent recent book 'Garrison World: Redcoat Soldiers in New Zealand and across the British Empire'. Details and zoom link here: buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
Garrison World Roundtable Event
I am taking part in a roundtable event at the Stout Research Centre on 6 May to discuss Charlotte Macdonald’s excellent recent book Garrison World: Redcoat...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Grateful to the protesters for reminding me I'm due for another booster soon.
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Bridget Williams Books @bwbnz.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
The 2026 Featherston Booktown line-up is out! Catch last year's Waikato War talk with Tom Roa, Joanna Kidman, James Belich and Vincent O'Malley – now available to watch online: youtube.com/watch?v=cge9bTANZyc
youtube.com
Invasion! The Waikato War: The Featherston Booktown NZ War History series
Vincent O’Malley writes that war in the Waikato between July 1863 and April 1864 ‘goes to the very core of who we are as a nation’. The crippling legacy was ...
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Bridget Williams Books @bwbnz.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
The Auckland Writers Festival programme is out! Events with BWB authors include: Charlotte Macdonald, Vincent O'Malley, Asher Emanuel, Rebecca Macfie, Craig Renney and Max Harris. Book now: www.bwb.co.nz/events/bwb-aut...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Great to be taking part in the Auckland Writers Festival this year. Looks like a stellar lineup of writers. www.writersfestival.co.nz/programmes/e...
writersfestival.co.nz
Vincent O’Malley: From Aotearoa New Zealand to the Emerald Isle • Auckland Writers Festival
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
There's clearly no NZ political news or developments from the last couple of days that 1 News considers newsworthy.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Incredible that 1 News did not lead with the PM's leadership under threat.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Ka kite Michael King Writers Centre.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Awesome!
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Remembering Rangiaowhia, 21 February 1864. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
Remembering Rangiaowhia
On 21 February 1864 Crown forces attacked the settlement of Rangiaowhia. On the anniversary of that attack, this piece explains what happened that day and...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Great to be here. And thanks to everyone who came along to my talk at Devonport Library last night.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Our session from the Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival last year on the invasion of Waikato is now available to view, featuring Joanna Kidman, Tom Roa, James Belich and me. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cge9...
youtube.com
Invasion! The Waikato War: The Featherston Booktown NZ War History series
YouTube video by Featherston Booktown
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
In very good company here!
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
As my first talk at Devonport Library filled up very quickly, I have agreed to do a second session a few days later, on 22 February. Link to book free tickets here: events.humanitix.com/dr-vincent-o...
events.humanitix.com
Dr Vincent O'Malley Auckland and the Invasion of the Waikato
Dr Vincent O’Malley argues that it was in the invasion of Waikato in 1863, and not either world war, that was the defining conflict in New Zealand history.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
If you are in the area, get along to the Fred Graham exhibition on at Pātaka, Porirua, till 10 May. It's great. pataka.org.nz/whats-on/exh...
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Bridget Williams Books @bwbnz.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
📢 Upcoming Event – Vincent O'Malley: Auckland and the Invasion of the Waikato 📢 Join Vincent O'Malley as he explores how the invasion of Waikato played out in Tāmaki Makaurau and the legacy it left behind. ⏰ 18 February, 6.30pm 📍 Devonport Library 📚 Free entry events.humanitix.com/dr-vinc...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Wonderful to see this recognition for Matua Tom Roa. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-year-...
nzherald.co.nz
‘Noise is not the same as progress’: Te reo leader’s warning after royal honour
Professor Tom Roa has been fighting for te reo Māori for more than 50 years.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
A recap of some of the content from my newsletter launched in March. www.meetingplace.nz/2025/12/unse...
meetingplace.nz
Unsettling Newsletter
Aotearoa New Zealand history with Dr Vincent O'Malley. The New Zealand Wars, the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti, Māori and Pākehā relations and more
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
An important exhibition to see if you are near Ōtautahi this summer. Kā Whakatauraki: The Promises, at Christchurch Art Gallery, displays the ten deeds signed between 1844 and 1864 that saw 34.5 million acres pass out of Ngāi Tahu ownership. christchurchartgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/...
christchurchartgallery.org.nz
Kā Whakatauraki: The Promises
A landmark exhibition bringing together the ten Ngāi Tahu land sale purchase deeds.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Especially relevant in NZ, where funding for the Archives NZ digitisation programme of official records was axed in 2024.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
"any unjustified removal of Ngāti Whātua from their lands ‘will never be forgiven and never be forgotten’". Robin Hyde and Ōrākei. buttondown.com/unsettling/a...
buttondown.com
Robin Hyde and Ōrākei
Recent controversy over the destruction of Penman House in Auckland reminded me of a series of brilliant articles that Robin Hyde wrote from that very place...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Marvellous! www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
rnz.co.nz
John Campbell announced as new co-host of Morning Report
He'll join Ingrid Hipkiss on the flagship news programme next year.
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Bridget Williams Books @bwbnz.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
'Garrison World explores the lives of soldiers, sailors and their families stationed in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the British empire in the nineteenth century.' In this new book trailer, Charlotte Macdonald introduces her latest book, 'Garrison World'! 🎥 @reverie_nzl #booktrailer #bwb
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Huge outcome for Te Tau Ihu iwi. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
rnz.co.nz
South Island Māori landowners to get more than 3000 hectares returned by Crown
Māori landowners will have the land returned, and receive $420 million in compensation, in a landmark agreement with the Crown, ending questions going back to the 1830s.
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
It has been fascinating to revisit Robin Hyde's brilliant reporting on government efforts to evict Ngāti Whātua from Ōrākei in the 1930s. These haven't been digitised for Papers Past yet. But I'll post a transcript of this one on my newsletter next week.
photo of Robin Hyde article 'Who says the Orakei Maoris Must Go?'
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Bridget Williams Books @bwbnz.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Congratulations to author Dame Claudia Orange on being a semifinalist for the 2026 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year! '... she continues to bring wisdom and clarity to national conversations.' Read the full citation on the awards website: nzawards.org.nz/awards/senio...
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Bridget Williams Books @bwbnz.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Read an extract from Charlotte Macdonald's new book, 'Garrison World: Redcoat Soldiers in New Zealand and across the British Empire', in the ODT! Pick up a copy of 'Garrison World' today from your local bookshop or through the BWB website. www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/maga...
odt.co.nz
Boots on the ground
Dunedin grew rapidly during the early 1860s. This watercolour was painted at this time by Walter Scarlett Hatton and shows substantial buildings...
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Vincent O'Malley @vomalley.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Gift subscriptions are now available on my newsletter. Just check the box with 'This is a gift' and enter the email address for the recipient. buttondown.com/unsettling
buttondown.com
Unsettling: Aotearoa New Zealand History
Reflections on the past and its implications for the present with award-winning historian Dr Vincent O’Malley FRHistS FRSNZ Read more about this newsletter here About me  My publications  For full ac...
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