1. The New Zealand Wars

2. Overview The New Zealand Wars have also been known as the ‘Land Wars’.
They were a series of conflicts which occurred during the 1860s and 1870s between Maori and British settlers/government.
These conflicts primarily centred on the issue of land and sovereignty.

3. Important Wars The First Taranaki War The Second Taranaki War
The East Cape/East Coast War
The Invasion of Waikato
Titokowaru’s War
Te Kooti’s War

4. Causes

5. Different Understandings of the Treaty
Maori and British settlers/government had very different understandings of the ways the Treaty of Waitangi would alter everyday life in NZ.
Land ownership- who would be entitled to land
Sovereignty- each side thought that they would have sovereignty over NZ
Law- Maori did not think they would be under the control of the laws of the colonial government.

6. Earlier Land Conflicts
Conflicts between Maori and British had occurred in the 1840s in Wairau and the North.
These conflicts were centred on disagreements over entitlement to land.
The War in the North ended in a stalemate as a result of terrain, Maori tactics and the engineering of Maori pa sites.
The outcome of this conflict paved the way for ongoing conflict between Maori and Pakeha. The British Government was quick to dismiss Maori skills in battle, but Maori had discovered key strategic advantages they could exploit against the British.

7. Kingitanga Movement
The movement was established in the Central North Island in the 1850s and aimed to appoint a Maori King.
This contributed to the outbreak of wars- particularly those in the Central North Island as the Kingitanga Movement was perceived as a threat to authority by the colonial government.
Wars in these areas were an attempt to assert colonial authority as well as to obtain land in these regions.

8. Change in Governors
In the 1840s George Grey had been appointed as Governor of NZ.
However, he was replaced by Thomas Gore Browne (Governor Browne) in Although Browne had initially hoped to protect Maori welfare, this was quickly subverted by his belief in British sovereignty. This led directly to the outbreak of war in Taranaki in 1860.
In 1861, Browne was replaced by George Grey (in his second term). In this term Grey was faced with the atmosphere of conflict which had emerged under Browne’s leadership and thus pursued an agenda of both ‘peace’ and ‘war’ policies simultaneously.

9. Conference at Kohimarama 1860
This meeting was called by Governor Browne and occurred in July-August of 1860.
It was the first and only real attempt to re-examine the Treaty of Waitangi.
The Government perspective was that the conference was another opportunity to deal with problems centring on land and the Kingitanga Movement.
Maori were seeking a way past the difficulties of land issues and war in Taranaki, as well as to reassert their understanding of the Treaty.
Maori were represented by around 200 chiefs but those that opposed the government were excluded.

10. Conference at Kohimarama 1860
The outcome of the conference was that government did not really listen to concerns expressed by Maori, and they failed to address the key issue of sovereignty.
At the conference Maori felt that they had better understood what was protected under article two of the Treaty.
Because the conference failed to adequately address real issues (sovereignty) and did not include all Maori, it failed to provide solutions to the problems in understanding across all parties. Thus conflict continued.

11. Emergence of Pai Marire
Pai Marire was a peaceful religious movement which emerged in 1862 under the leadership of prophet Te Ua Haumere.
The aim of the religion was to redress Maori social and economic deprivation. However this was lost as Maori faced continuing threats of military action from the colonial government and the movement became more militant- this militant group became known as the HauHau.
To a certain extent this arose out of conflicts which were occurring over land prior to however the opposition this established between Maori and Pakeha, as well as their militant attitude were central to a range of wars.

12. Events and People

13. War in Taranaki
War occurred between March 1860-March Conflict occurred mostly around the Waitara River.
Wiremu Kingi and Taranaki supporters fought to retain land which was the source of their mana and independence.
Settlers were seeking land for farming in New Plymouth and British Government sought to assert substantive sovereignty.
The Waitara Block had been offered for sale by a minor chief but he was overruled by Wiremu Kingi.
Maori were relatively successful with purpose-built Pa tactics and raiding of Pakeha settlements, the British had difficulty achieving any sort of victory.
Pakeha propaganda was used to conceal their lack of success.
A ceasefire was agreed to in 1861 and an investigation undertaken into the sale of the Waitara Block.

14. Invasion of Waikato 1863
The Invasion of Waikato was initiated by Governor Grey.
He constructed an excuse for this war by blaming conflict in Taranaki on the Kingitanga Movement, and suggesting that they were planning an attack on Auckland.
He prepared for this by; building the Great South Road to allow easy access of troops and artillery to Waikato, establishing military posts near the river and exaggerating the threat of Maori to the colonial office.
On July 9th 1863, Grey ordered all Maori north of Mangatawhiri to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen, but ordered invasion before this message could reach them.

15. Invasion of Waikato ctd.
Maori support for the Kingites was broad- between tribes sent contingents.
The British had the highest number of troops here, of any conflict. 7% of the total population. They were supported by Te Arawa tribe (reinforcing an existing tribal conflict with Waikato).
British troops moved to Waikato in July. Their aim was to destroy the Kingitanga Movement.
Battles began around Pukekawa/Meremere and spread north to South Auckland, before moving to Waikato in areas such as Rangiriri and Orakau.
Outcomes here were uncertain- Maori fought with some success but ultimately surrendered several sites.
British were unwilling to advance further south than Orakau due to rugged terrain and thus turned their attention to the Bay of Plenty/East Coast.

16. War in BoP/East Coast 1864
After conflict settled in Waikato, Rawiri Puhirake (chief of Ngai te Rangi) provoked British troops sent to control Tauranga Harbour.
There was a lack of response initially which caused them to increase provocation.
The attack began in April, and the British expected easy victory (due to numbers of troops). However they suffered significant losses and had to retreat as a result of pa warfare tactics.
They blamed ill-discipline of troops and poor leadership. Troops were withdrawn 2 weeks later.
As a result of this Governor Grey began to consider the idea of making peace with the Kingitanga Movement.

17. Titokowaru Titokowaru was from South Taranaki.
In the 1840s he made a commitment to Methodist Christianity, but rejected this in the 1850s to oppose land sales.
He was influenced by Pai Marire to create his own religion directed towards peace.
He used tactics of compromise, peace meetings and passive resistance.
In 1868 Titokowaru and his followers became involved in conflict in response to land confiscation.
Although they were significantly outnumbered, they had a number of success in battle and began to pose a threat to the Colonial Government.
In 1869 Titokowaru lost much mana and support after committing adultery. He withdraws, and settles back in Taranaki.

19. Te Kooti
Te Kooti had fought with the Colonial Government against the Hauhau on the East Coast in 1865.
Consequently he was arrested and sent to the Chatham Islands.
Revelations during this time made him a prophet and led directly to his development of the Ringatu Faith, the oldest surviving Maori religion.
In July 1868, Te Kooti led an escape from the Chathams to Poverty Bay.
His armed conflict with Pakeha began a couple of weeks later. It was caused primarily by his seeking retribution for wrongful arrest and the stimulation of resistance to British laws caused by his return to the East Coast.

21. Te Kooti
Te Kooti established himself near Lake Waikaremoana but his presence was opposed by both the Kingitanga Movement and Tuhoe.
He attacked both Maori and Pakeha in Poverty Bay because of his desire for utu, religious inspiration and in response to what he perceived to be illegal land sales especially in Matawhero.
He often gained support through fear and made many enemies both Maori and Pakeha.
In 1869 he withdrew to the Urewera- making raids from here.
Between 1869 and 1872 he was pursued by the government throughout the country.
In 1872 he arrived in the King Country but was not granted sanctuary until he renounced war .
From this point onwards he focused on the development of the Ringatu Religion.

22. Outcomes of the Wars

23. Battle Success
Maori won the majority of the actual fighting in the wars.
In spite of this, Pakeha propaganda made it possible for the government to conceal this.
This allowed them to prioritise law-making and law enforcement, and to assert their dominance in this way.

24. Increased Government Dominance
In 1863 the government accepted responsibility for “Native Affairs” and began to pass legislation which was being pushed for.
This led to policies such as;
Land confiscation
More Pakeha settlement
Pakeha political dominance.
Ultimately this allowed the government to effectively marginalise Maori socially, economically and politically in spite of their policy of amalgamation.

25. Significant Acts
Suppression of Rebellion Act 1863: This authorised the trial and punishment of those suspected of rebellion by summary court-martial proceedings without right of appeal to the Supreme Court.
New Zealand Settlements Act 1863: Enabled confiscation of land from Maori “rebels”. This was known as Raupatu
4.73 million acres were confiscated in Waikato, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and the East Coast.

26. Land confiscated by the government under the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863

27. Native Lands Act 1865/The Native Land Courts

28. Significant Acts Native Schools Act 1867:
Maori Representation Act 1867:

29. Impact on Race Relations

30. Significance

31. In the 19th Century

32. Ongoing