Excerpt from nzherald.co.nz

One of the world’s most enlightened and peaceful cultures was created right here in our corner of the globe. Journey to the Chatham Islands to hear the moving story of the Moriori people, writes Ben Leahy

Everyone in our tour group is touched as Maui Solomon tells of his Moriori ancestor’s tragic past.

Yet for Tania, it hits deeper than most.

Her story doesn’t, at first glance, appear to have much in common with the Moriori.

As the original inhabitants of Rēkohu/Chatham Island, 800km east of mainland New Zealand, the Moriori lived hundreds of years on the island archipelago before they were murdered and enslaved in a horrific 1800s genocide at the hands of Māori invaders.

Tania, by contrast, is a Pākehā farmer and single mum from Whanganui.

Yet she’s also experienced fear in an abusive relationship.