The invsion of Parihaka, New Zealand

Inspiration

I wanted to tell the story of Parihaka as more than a footnote. An indigenous community choosing non-violent resistance and being met with invasion, arrests, and land theft. The idea was to turn a history many people have never heard of into an emotional, visual experience that stays with them long after a short scroll.

What it does

The film compresses the lead-up to the 1881 invasion and its aftermath into a short vertical narrative: peaceful ploughing, soldiers marching in, the breaking of homes and spirits, and the enduring dignity of the people of Parihaka. Through captions, pacing, and music, it gives viewers a concise, visceral introduction to what happened and why it still matters.

How we built it

I started with historical research on Parihaka and outlined a simple, chronological arc that could fit into a short. Then I used AI image and video tools (such as OpenArt/Midjourney-style generators and video tools like Veo/Kling/Sora) to create stylized scenes of the settlement, soldiers, and landscapes. I added narration and sound using tools like Suno/ElevenLabs and edited, timed captions, and transitions in CapCut to work natively as a vertical short.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest challenge was treating a painful real event with respect while using stylized AI imagery. I spent a lot of time iterating prompts to avoid clichés or misrepresentations, and kept the tone restrained rather than sensational. Fitting the core of the story into such a short runtime without oversimplifying was another delicate balance.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I’m proud that the video manages to be both informative and emotionally grounded in under a minute. Viewers who had never heard of Parihaka have reached out saying they went to read more afterward that curiosity and respect for Māori resistance is the outcome I care about most. The video became viral on Tiktok with multiple people reaching out for demanding more informative videos like this.

What we learned

I learned how much responsibility comes with using AI to depict real historical trauma, especially for indigenous communities. It reinforced the need for research, careful framing, and humility, and showed me that vertical shorts can still carry real historical weight, not just quick trends.

What's next for The Invasion of Parihaka

Next, I’d like to expand this into a small series on under-told stories of indigenous resistance around the world, and, where possible, collaborate with Māori and other indigenous creators so future pieces can include their voices, language, and perspective alongside the AI-driven visuals.

Built With

• capcut
• elevenlabs
• fal
• kling
• openart
• veo