A total of 1.2-million hectares of land in New Zealand (including lands later returned) were confiscated after the 1860s wars. The threat of land confiscation helped tip the balance of power toward the colonial government during the tribal rebellions that took place in New Zealand mostly from 1860 to 1872.
Proposed confiscations were contentious at the time. Former chief justice Sir William Martin argued that the confiscation of New Zealand private land would only result in a “brooding sense of wrong”. Native Minister Donald McLean said the confiscations were an expensive mistake.
The confiscations were carried out under the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863, which was to enable the Governor to establish settlements for colonization in the North Island of New Zealand. This law was a companion to the Suppression of Rebellion Act 1863, which intended "to take the most vigorous and effectual measures for suppressing the said rebellion in any part of this colony which shall appear to be necessary for the public safety, and for the safety and protection of the persons and properties of Her Majesty's peaceable and loyal subjects, and to punish all persons acting, aiding, or in any manner assisting in the said rebellion".
A total of 186,964ha remained confiscated in Taranaki, 359,283ha in Waikato, 20,234ha in Tauranga, 64,079ha in Whakatane-Opotiki, and 78,104ha in Mohaka-Waikare in Hawke’s Bay.
New Zealand has a total land area of 26.8-million hectares.