Tiara Na’puti, an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine, whose studies include militarism and sovereignty in the Pacific Islands, said the historical context of Aotearoa, or New Zealand, can’t be ignored. The British colonized Aotearoa, formally annexing the islands in 1840, and set off decades of conflict between settlers and indigenous populations, as well as severe European encroachment upon Māori land. Na'puti pointed out that the Māori community experienced significant land loss, now holding just roughly 5% of all land there. … Na’Puti also said production should learn and engage with the histories of the land, and acknowledge Māori land loss.

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