WHEN A DOG TAX SPARKED A STAND-OFF: A NEW PLAY REVISITS A DEFINING MOMENT IN TE TAI TOKERAU HISTORY

A new play by Ngāpuhi 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. Tāke Kurī: The Dog Tax Rebellion plays at Te Pou Theatre, Tāmaki Makaurau from 28 October – 1 November, before travelling to Turner Centre, Kerikeri on 12 November and the Rawene Town Hall on 13 November.

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.”

“It was remarkable how quickly a local dispute escalated into such a significant event,” says Clendon. “A small community found itself facing a huge government response. It became a real David and Goliath story, and that tension was something I wanted to explore theatrically.”

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.

“I’m interested in telling stories that connect our history with the present,” says Clendon. “This is a story about people, about choices, and about the consequences when power is not balanced.”

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 (Tuhoe) (Rangitoto, Kūmara & 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.

Tāke Kurī: The Dog Tax Rebellion was first developed for Te Pou Theatre’s Kōanga Festival in 2023, where an initial workshop and reading were presented. Following further development and a second workshop in 2025, the work is now ready to meet audiences.

Geoffrey Clendon is a writer, actor and director whose career in film, theatre and television spans more than forty years. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, he has worked extensively across Aotearoa and Australia. His recent work Rangitoto premiered at The Pumphouse Theatre and Artworks Theatre in 2023.

SHOW DETAILS
Tāke Kurī: The Dog Tax Rebellion
TICKETS ON SALE SOON
Te Pou Theatre, Auckland
28 October – 1 November 2026
Book at Te Pou Theatre

Turner Centre, Kerikeri
12 November 2026
Book at Turner Centre

Rawene Town Hall
13 November 2026
Book by emailing: rawenehall@gmail.com