A tax of five shillings annually per dog was levied throughout New Zealand in 1880 under the Dog Registration Act to enforce registration and control of dogs.

Maori had numerous dogs but lacked the money to register them. Anti-government Maori leaders like Te Whiti advised non-payment of the tax. Resistance to the tax in the Chatham Islands in 1888 brought eight armed constables from the mainland, arrested 16 dog tax offenders, and took them to the mainland for trial and a month in jail. In 1897, 13 Maori from Waima in the Hokianga were jailed for non-payment of dog taxes. In March 1898, spiritual leader Hone Toia and others from Waima were taken to the Magistrates Court for non-payment of the tax.

Refusal to pay led to threats on both sides and escalated to the arrival of around 130 armed men on two ships around May 3. With a cannon loaded with scrap metal aimed at the main street of Rawene, Hone Heke Rankin, a Maori MP, negotiated the surrender of around 250 dog tax rebels on Thursday, May 5, 1898.

Seventeen Maori were arrested and 25 guns were seized. Hone Heke Rankin tried to negotiate, without success, with the government for the acquittal of all those arrested.

At the Supreme Court hearing all changed their plea to guilty on all charges except the first charge of forming an intention to levy war, which was withdrawn. The first five defendants, four of which were judged to be the leaders of the rebellion, were sentenced to twelve months imprisonment. The others were fined £10, and enter into their own recognisance of £25, with one surety in a similar amount, to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 calendar months