The aim is to create a fact based game to show why the Haka is important to Maori and the history behind it as well as the importance of the Maori battalion going into battle during the first and second world war.(Please keep in mind that this is more aimed at being Educational, as much as I want to make this in some ways unrealistic and semi-fantasy, I have to respect the kaupapa of the whakapapa).
The game would allow the player to live in the lives of the heroes who sculpted NZ's ancestral history into what it is today at the same time as educating them in Maori history and its significance to the people.
For the game/storylines sake the player could be someone wanting to find out more about who he is and where he came from he could go into some sort of water/memory chamber (similar to how Walter puts Olivia in a water chamber in Fringe) and that is where he is able to carry out the missions of finding out about different people who have made a difference, not only who they were in that one chunk of history but tell there life story so that the player can see what it was in life that made them who they are, why were they important? what important part of history did they play for their own people to remember them in such and important way, portray their Mana, Wairua, Whanau, possibly Hapu and Iwi as well,
The other side of the game starts in when you come out of the chamber you have to search through the clues and memories of while you were in the chamber to try and figure out who's life it was you were playing as along with other optional possible side quests you could choose to accept.
As the player is playing through each ancestor at certain points there will be check points so at anytime once that life has been lived then it will be unlocked and added to the timeline, the checkpoints and life's could be added into the timeline separately or just the life and then the player could choose which checkpoint to start from so that the player can go back to a point of their choice instead of playing the whole life all over again.
Allow the players to fight hand to hand combat using Patu/Mere, Wahaika, Kotiate, Taiaha and Toki Pou Tangata, traditional Maori Weapons, throughout telling them the story of the ancestors life as well as what they represent, in todays society a Patu, made from greenstone, hardwood, stone or whalebone is given to one who is facing and overcoming the challenges life presents but back in those days it was a warriors weapon, if it was made of greenstone it represented someone with great honor and strength, sorry to say but my aim is not to tell the British story, it is and will be in the eyes and beliefs of Maori, including the importance and respect held for Tuhonga.
The following is a brief history through multiple ideas of history and people that I would ideally like to incorporate.
There are multiple haka's in which are performed, the "peruperu" was performed before going into battle, Maori used this to invoke Tumatauenga, the god of war, and to warn the enemy of the challenge and fate ahead of them. It is this that I would like to portray rather than the portrayal of how it is performed before each rugby match by the All Blacks, Ka Mate was originally written by Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha, his story could be added into the beginning of the game to show the importance and significance of the haka to Maori people, which is also to resemble why Maori get offended so easily when it is miss-used commercially or for personal gain.
There was over 700 men who was a part of the battalion, originally 681 men sailed from wellington in the 2nd Echelon of NZ aboard Aquitania.
In the first contact with the enemy they were trying to capture the heights of Chunuk Bair, the Maori troops charged Turkish trenches with bayonets in hand and a lot of determination, when the trenches was clear they would chanting the haka "Ka mate" then would go silent as they pressed onto the next point. It was said that the Maori contingent terrified the Ottomans with their haka's and fighting ability.
Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberd commanded the 2nd NZ Division and had made the comment that 'no infantry battalion had a more distinguished record, or saw more fighting, or alas, had such heavy casualties as the Maori battalion'.
There are many stories that could be told from the Maori heroes who served for example. Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu who was the first platoon commander, Sergent Haane Manahi who captured a strong hold of more than 300 Italian and German troops, Sergent Porokoru Patapu Pohe who was the first Maori pilot to arrive in England, there was 99 honours and awards eventually given to the Maori battalion.
As the history itself holds great honour many songs were written about their achievements, for example
E kiwi e: http://folksong.org.nz/e_kiwi_e/index.html
Maori Battalion from Prince Tui Teka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef9pNt3599I
There are many documentaries made as well this has been portrayed by Taika Waititi:
Tama Tu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn5dEE80oRg
Images from:
Traditional
http://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/?p=22397
Performing the haka in Egypt
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/maori-in-second-world-war
Maori battalion members in Italy
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/maori-battalion-in-sora
