![]() The alienation of Taranaki land was challenged by Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi at Parihaka and their followers cultivated and planted confiscated land. These actions made him deeply unpopular with Maori and Bishop Octavius Hadfield reported that west coast Māori called him Bryce kohuru (Bryce the murderer). He expanded the powers of the Native Land Court in order to facilitate the sale of Māori land, reduced the scope of the Native Department, and enforced the law against any Maori resisting land confiscation and sales. From 1876 to 1879, he chaired the Native Affairs Committee and between 18, was the Minister of Native Affairs. In 1871, Bryce was back in Parliament as MP for Wanganui to 1881, and then MP for Waitotara until 1887. Minister of Native Affairs Bryce (top left) in a cartoon depiction of the Whitaker Ministry Gordon's involvement and the damaging trial publicity delayed his elevation to the British peerage. Ex-Governor Arthur Hamilton-Gordon supported publisher Rusden but when the case went to trial Bryce won and was awarded damages as it was proved no women were present at Handley's woolshed, and Bryce denied being directly involved. The incident in which Bryce was alleged to have taken part was reported as an attack on woman and children in the "History of New Zealand" published in 1883 and led to a successful libel action against the publisher George William Rusden. ![]() Later reports had the Māori as a group of unarmed boys, aged from ten to twelve. Initially it was reported as an attack on a band of Hauhau warriors, killing two and wounding others and where Bryce was "prominent and set the men a gallant example" according to his commanding officer. Bryce was proud of his commission, but an incident at William Handley's woolshed in November 1868 clouded his military career. When settlers were threatened by Māori led by Tītokowaru in 1867, Bryce volunteered and became a lieutenant in the Kai-iwi Yeomanry Cavalry Volunteers. By 1862 he was representing his area in the Wellington Provincial Council, and by 1866 was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wanganui, a position he held for only a year before resigning due to ill-health. In 1859, Bryce started his political career. Early political career New Zealand Parliament Years Īfter a short time in the Australian gold-fields in 1851, he purchased a farm near Wanganui and remained a farmer for the next fifty years. ![]() John Bryce arrived in New Zealand as a child in 1840, and had little formal education. ĭescribed as being stubborn and embittered to Māori questions, Bryce was the public face of a harsh policy towards Māori, but his actions were supported by the Premier and other members of his cabinet. In his attitudes to Māori land questions, he favoured strict legal actions against Māori opposed to alienation, and he personally directed the invasion of Parihaka and the arrest of the leaders of the movement. The casting of Ben Foster and Giovanni Ribisi certainly helps lend said element of class, as both actors are extremely underrated and immensely watchable.John Bryce (14 September 1833 – 17 January 1913) was a New Zealand politician from 1871 to 1891 and Minister of Native Affairs from 1879 to 1884. Sometimes those elements are slick, if out of place (explosion during a heist in South America), others lack tension (the long plot reveal), but overall it has enough class to ignore its flaws. It's hard to put Contraband in a box, because it's neither an action film nor really a thriller - but it does have elements of both. While he's off changing his middle name to "danger", revelations occurring at home put the very family he's trying to protect at risk. Forced to repay a debt, John must take on a dangerous job to keep his family safe. Now turned straight, he's dragged back into it when his dim-witted brother-in-law (Jones) pisses off Giovanni Ribisi's local tough bastard. Not so long ago Wahlberg's John Bryce and his best friend Chris (the always watchable Foster) were infamous amongst the criminal elite for their smuggling skills. The overall film is a little disjointed, but generally enjoyable. A blue collar family man who was once a top drawer smuggler, it plays to the Bostonian Oscar nominees ostensible strengths tough, but sensitive when applicable. A remake of an Icelandic thriller, it's easy to see why Wahlberg really went after this film.
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