Rua Kenana was a very significant figure in New Zealand’s history. His community and teachings challenged the way New Zealander’s viewed and thought about different aspects of life. To Maori people, Rua was a revolutionary personality who was admired and worshiped as a ‘God like’ figure who was going to bring change and improve life for Maori people in society. To the European settlers in New Zealand, Rua was seen as a threat that opposed all that they stood for. The opposition to World War One was an event in Rua’s life of which the New Zealand government was challenged and Rua's ideas were clearly expressed. During this time, Rua encouraged his followers to rise up and avoid being dominated by the influence of Pakeha. Rua had a very strong connection to his ancestors and this motivated him to restore culture within Maori people. This led him to start his own community in Maungapohatu. From then on, Rua’s community grew into a network of many different followers and his guidance and judgements – for better, and for worse, directed his people through the most difficult period of adjustments, as European settlers gradually took over their world. The European's responded with acts of conspiracy and violence, through this Rua Kenana continued to bare the 'light at the end of the tunnel' and represent his people with dignity and pride.