Tāke Kurī: The Dog Tax Rebellion

A new play by Ngapuhi playwright Geoffrey Clendon explores the 1898 Hokianga conflict, when a dispute over a Dog Tax escalated into an armed confrontation between Te Māhurehure hapū and government forces.

Blending drama, comedy and history, Tāke Kurī: The Dog Tax Rebellion brings to life a dramatic chapter of Te Tai Tokerau history, a story of resistance, law, power and the fight to uphold mana, with themes that continue to resonate in Aotearoa today.

Set in the Hokianga township of Rawene, the play explores the events surrounding the introduction of the Dog Tax, which many Māori believed unfairly targeted their communities. The dispute escalated into an armed standoff between Te Māhurehure hapū and government forces, involving soldiers, police, politicians, naval ships and cannons.

For playwright Geoffrey Clendon, the story is deeply personal. “I have a deep connection to this story because my ancestors - Māori and Pākehā - were involved on different sides of what unfolded,” says Clendon.  “That connection gives me a responsibility to explore the events with honesty and care, and to acknowledge the complexity of what happened.”

Clendon spent time in Te Tai Tokerau researching for the play. “The support and encouragement I received from people in the Hokianga was incredibly meaningful,” he says. “It confirmed that this was a story people wanted to see told.”

While set in 1898, Tāke Kurī explores questions that remain relevant today, the relationship between Māori communities and the state, the consequences of decisions made without understanding their impact, and what happens when communities feel their voices are not being heard.

Directed as an ensemble work, the production features four actors playing more than 20 characters, bringing to life Māori and Pākehā figures involved in the conflict, as well as canine commentators who provide a wry perspective on the events unfolding around them.

The cast includes Jade Daniels (Ngāpuhi), whose credits include Shortland Street, The Enemy Within and Eruption; Francis Mountjoy (The Brokenwood Mysteries, Step Dave); Noa Campbell (Ngāpuhi) (Bust Up, Chief of War); and Johnson Manukau (Tūhoe) (Rehab, Kumara & The Mooncake).

The production will also feature a display of rare archival photographs from the Dog Tax Rebellion in the theatre foyers, connecting audiences directly with the real people and events that inspired the play. The images will provide a springboard for post-performance discussions exploring the history, legacy and ongoing significance of the conflict.

With thanks to the Bay of Islands Whangaroa Community Board

Book at https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/nov/take-kuri-the-dog-tax-rebellion?occurrence=2026-11-12