2025 Programmes

Monty Soutar

Monty Soutar

Dr Monty Soutar, ONZM (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Kahungunu) has worked widely with iwi and Māori communities, in particular while writing Nga Tama Toa, which told the story of C Company 28 (Māori) Battalion in the Second World War. His latest non-fiction publication Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E! focused on Māori participation in the First World War. He has held a number of appointments on national advisory boards and until very recently, Monty held the position of Senior Historian for the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and continues to serve on the Waitangi Tribunal. The second book in Monty’s Kawai series: Tree of Nourishment delves into the profound impact of early colonisation: from raids by musket-wielding war parties to heightened internal warfare; from the influx of whalers, traders and Christian missionaries to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.