Mark Derby
The prophet and the policeman: The story of Rua Kenana and John Cullen

Wednesday 17 February 2010 6.00pm
Auckland Central City Library, level 2
Welcome glass of wine at 5.30pm courtesy of Glengarry Wines
Free entrance, bookings highly recommended, tel. (09) 377 0209

In April 1916, John Cullen, the Commissioner of the New Zealand Police Force, personally led a raid on the Tuhoe prophet Rua Kenana's community at Maungapohatu. The raid, which was based on trumped-up charges, left two of Rua's followers dead and a number of others wounded, and is often described as the last battle of the New Zealand Wars.
The prophet and the policeman is the story of this tragic and profoundly symbolic event told by recounting the life stories of its two protagonists: Cullen, a farm labourer born in rural Ireland who rose through the ranks to head the police force and was famously violent, devious and authoritarian, and Rua, the inspirational though often mysterious and contradictory Māori leader.
Full details on library website.
Publisher - Craig Potton Publishing