Skip to main content

Kōrero: Feature film

Rewi's last stand, 1940

Rudall Hayward's re-enactment of the battle of Ōrākau during the New Zealand Wars, Rewi's last stand, was first made as a silent film in 1925. Hayward re-shot the film with sound in 1940, casting descendants of both Māori and Pākehā individuals who took part in the battle. This extract shows Leo Pilcher as Robert Beaumont, fighting to protect Ariana, played by Ramai Te Miha. Te Miha later became Hayward's wife and his partner in many later film projects. Hayward's film-making career spanned more than 50 years.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Reference: F5690

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Helen Martin, Feature film – Pioneering days, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/interactive/42468/rewis-last-stand-1940 (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Helen Martin, i tāngia i te 9 September 2013, reviewed and revised 21 May 2024 me te āwhina o Emma-Jean Kelly.