Land Settlements

On 17 June 1843, 22 Europeans and four Māori were killed when an armed party of New Zealand Company settlers clashed with Ngāti Toa over the purchase of land in the Wairau Valley. This affray at Tuamarina, 10 km north of today’s town of Blenheim, was the first significant armed conflict between Māori and British settlers after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Nine of the Europeans had been executed after surrendering, and outraged settlers demanded action against Ngāti Toa. They were disappointed when the new governor, Robert FitzRoy, judged that the Māori had been provoked by the Europeans. FitzRoy’s subsequent inaction was widely condemned by Pākehā, but the alternative – open warfare with Ngāti Toa – would have been disastrous for settlers struggling to establish themselves in a new land.

A newspaper article of the time shows how it was reported.

Here is an audio recording of the conflict.

There were many different perspectives of the incident. In the activity below, you are to look at 2 different perspectives, and write an article from each perspective.

Activity 1: The Wairau Incident - Understanding different perspectives

Build up to the Northern Wars

Hone Heke was the first Maori Chief to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. However, he soon became angry at the way British were controlling his lands and how little difference the Treaty had made to trade and his accumulation of wealth. He felt he had been tricked and that his tribe had been better off before he had signed the Treaty.

Activity 2: Lead-up to war

Watch the 6-minute excerpt from the first episode of James Belich's awar-winning history of Maori vs Pakeha armed conflict found at New Zealand onscreen.

At Kororeka (Russell), fighting continued after Hone Heke had cut down the flag for a third time; a stock of ammunition exploded, setting fire to surrounding buildings. Townspeople evacuated to the Hazard. Over $50,000 worth of property was lost. In Auckland, panic set in. Some settlers sold their land for whatever price they could obtain, and left the colony as quickly as possible. Settlers and officials demanded an explanation as to how professional soldiers and sailors had allowed Kororareka to fall. This was the start of the Northern Wars.

Northern Wars

The Northern Wars were the first serious challenge to the Crown in the years following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The wars began with the sacking of Kororareka, then New Zealand's fifth-largest town. Fighting followed at Puketuto in May. This was followed by the British defeat at Ohaeawai in July; fighting ended after the inconclusive battle at Ruapekapeka in January 1846.

Lieutenant Henry Colin Balneavis led the ill-fated assault on Ohaeawai Pa (near Kaikohe in Northland) in 1845. Over 70 soldiers were killed or wounded in the five minutes before the retreat sounded. Balneavis also fought at Ruapekapeka (near Russell in the Bay of Islands). Balneavis was really impressed by the sophistication of the design of pa and made a model based on both the Ohaeawai and Ruapekapeka sites.

Kingitanga - the Maori King movement

The increasing numbers of European migrants needing land grew impatient - they considered officials such as Governor FitzRoy were 'soft on Maori' and did not protect settler interests. The New Zealand company, arguing that Maori land right contained in Article 2 of the Treaty of Waitangi should be restricted to 'a few patches of potato-ground, and rude dwelling places', dismissed the Treaty as 'a praiseworthy device for amousing and pacifying savages for the moments'. Some tribes, led by Waikato-Tainui, wanted a Maori King to hold their lands and people together. Potatau Te Wherowhero in 1858 became the first Maori King. Te Wherowhero and his son and successor Tawhiao made it clear they were not opposed to Pakeha settlement or to the Crown's sovereignty over Crown land. They wanted to adminste4r the affairs of their own people under the protection of Queen Victoria, in much the same way Parliament adminstered the affairs of settlers. Governors Grey and Browne saw the King movement as treasonable, a land league that challenged the authority of the Crown and future British settlement.

(Answer the questions on your document Activity 2: Lead up to the war under "Kingitanga Movement - Perspectives" ).

New Zealand Wars - Taranaki and Waikato Taranaki

By the 1850's the European population in New Zealand exceeded the Maori population. As more settlers arrived there was increasing pressure on the New Zealand government to provide land, and much of it was still under Maori control. By 1860, nearly all of the South Island was in Pakeha ownership, but in the North Island Maori began to organise themselves so they could better stand together and resist pressures to sell their land.

Land disputes caused tension in New Plymouth. European settlers wanted Governor Gore Browne to open up access to Maori land. Maori generally resisted sales, but some hapu were bitterly divided on the issue - some wanting to sell, others wanting to resist any more land sales.

In 1859, Governor Brown visited New Plymouth and encouraged Maori to sell. A young Waitara chief, Te Teira, offered 600 acres (240 hectares) at the mouth of the Waitara River. TE Teira did not have the consent of a more senior chief, Wiremu Kingi, or of the majority of the iwi living on the land. Governor Browne accepted Te Teira's offer to sell the land and ignored protest from chief Kini and his supporters that the sale was not authorised. Conflict broke out on the disputed land and started the Taranaki Wars. War spread throughout Taranki and to the Waikato.

Waikato

Some of the Maori King's supporters had particpated in the Taranaki Wars and the government was keen to punish them and firmly establish sovereignty over Maori. On 9 July 1863, Governor Greay (who had replaced Governor Browne) issued a proclamation directing Waikato Maori living in the government-controlled area south of Auckland to swear allegiance to the Queen. Two days later, Grey issued a second proclamation, warning those 'in arms' that they forfeited their right to lands. On 12 July 1863, the British army, commanded by Lieutenant General Cameron, crossed the Mangatawhiri Stream (which marked the boundary of the Kingitanga lands) - this was seen by Maori as an invasion, and this sparked the Waikato Wars.

The purpose of Cameron's march was to destroy villages and traditional pa in Taranaki to forestall possible future resistance.

(Answer the questions on your document Activity 2: Lead up to the war under "Taranaki and Waikato Wars" ).

Possible case study on Parihaka can begin here if time!