war in the waikato

War in the WaikatoWar in the Waikato


Grey's Peace Grey's Peace PolicyPolicy

Grey set up Grey set up runangarunanga or new institutions to or new institutions to give the chiefs local give the chiefs local administrative administrative powers. When the powers. When the Maori chiefs did not Maori chiefs did not use it to sell land it use it to sell land it lost its appeal. lost its appeal.


Grey also tried flattery and gifts, his Grey also tried flattery and gifts, his 'flour 'flour and sugar'and sugar' policy , but pensions and gifts policy , but pensions and gifts could not solve the problems of a declining could not solve the problems of a declining population, social disruption and poverty .population, social disruption and poverty .


War PolicyWar Policy At the same time Grey prepared for war. At the same time Grey prepared for war. He was uneasy about the formidable, He was uneasy about the formidable,

independent, central tribes. The limited independent, central tribes. The limited support the King Movement had given to support the King Movement had given to the Taranaki war had demonstrated its the Taranaki war had demonstrated its military muscle. military muscle.


He built roads into the Waikato and He built roads into the Waikato and planned for gunboats on the Waikato planned for gunboats on the Waikato River. He kept the troops from the River. He kept the troops from the Taranaki War, supplementing them with Taranaki War, supplementing them with an extra 3000 men. an extra 3000 men.


Grey and Cameron made careful preparations Grey and Cameron made careful preparations for the invasion of the Waikato.for the invasion of the Waikato.

Armed and armored steamers were acquired for Armed and armored steamers were acquired for the Waikato river.the Waikato river.

The Great South Road and protective forts were The Great South Road and protective forts were built.built.

A supply organization was built.A supply organization was built. A military telegraph linked Auckland to the front.A military telegraph linked Auckland to the front. Three extra regiments and other reinforcements Three extra regiments and other reinforcements

were 'prised' out of the Imperial Government were 'prised' out of the Imperial Government


Cameron's revelation Cameron's revelation to London that Grey's to London that Grey's allegedly imminent allegedly imminent 'Maori Rebellion' had 'Maori Rebellion' had not persuaded the not persuaded the settlers to spend any settlers to spend any money on their own money on their own defense came too late defense came too late to stop the flow of to stop the flow of imperial imperial resources. resources.


Numbers of Numbers of imperial troopsimperial troops rose from rose from about 8000 in July 1861 to about 12000 in about 8000 in July 1861 to about 12000 in May 1864. About 3/4's of these troops May 1864. About 3/4's of these troops were available for the Waikato war.were available for the Waikato war.


The Colonial Government contributed a few The Colonial Government contributed a few hundred hundred colonial regularscolonial regulars

the the Forest RangersForest Rangers and the and the Colonial Colonial Defence Force Defence Force cavalry cavalry and a substantial number of and a substantial number of militiamilitia and and volunteers from Auckland. volunteers from Auckland. These were gradually replaced by These were gradually replaced by

Military Military settlers - The Waikato militia - settlers - The Waikato militia - mainly men mainly men from the Australian and from the Australian and Otago goldfields Otago goldfields on the promise of on the promise of confiscated Maori land.confiscated Maori land.


Events Leading to WarEvents Leading to War Grey decided the Waitara should be Grey decided the Waitara should be

returned to its Maori owners. But first he returned to its Maori owners. But first he occupied the occupied the Tataraimaka blockTataraimaka block which had which had been seized by Taranaki tribes. The angry been seized by Taranaki tribes. The angry AtiawaAtiawa unsuccessfully ambushed unsuccessfully ambushed government troops at government troops at OakuraOakura. The . The Waitara Waitara was officially returned in May was officially returned in May 1863. 1863.


Grey blamed the Kingites for the Oakura Grey blamed the Kingites for the Oakura ambush. He also claimed they had a plot ambush. He also claimed they had a plot to invade Auckland.to invade Auckland.

On 11 July 1863 he ordered the invasion On 11 July 1863 he ordered the invasion of Waikato. of Waikato.


Causes of Conflict in the WaikatoCauses of Conflict in the Waikato The long-term cause was the basic The long-term cause was the basic

antagonism of Maori and Pakeha. The antagonism of Maori and Pakeha. The settlers and even the missionaries settlers and even the missionaries welcomed war. They wanted to subjugate welcomed war. They wanted to subjugate Maori nationalism. Their argument was Maori nationalism. Their argument was that the that the 'rule of Pakeha law should prevail'.'rule of Pakeha law should prevail'.


GreyGrey, like , like Gore Gore BrowneBrowne, wanted to , wanted to establish British establish British authority more authority more effectively. Grey effectively. Grey saw the Oakura saw the Oakura ambush as a ambush as a rejection of British rejection of British authority. authority.


The settlers and financiers coveted the The settlers and financiers coveted the rich lands of the Waikato. rich lands of the Waikato.


The Opposing Armies The Opposing Armies The British ForceThe British Force:: InIn 1864 1864

Grey had 14000 men. Of Grey had 14000 men. Of these, 4000 were these, 4000 were colonial colonial forcesforces, 9000 were , 9000 were Imperial Imperial soldierssoldiers, a few hundred were , a few hundred were pro-British pro-British QueenitesQueenites (Arawa). (Arawa).

Total mobilisation is estimated Total mobilisation is estimated

at 18 000 men. They were at 18 000 men. They were commanded by commanded by Lieutenant- Lieutenant- General CameronGeneral Cameron. It. It was one was one of the best prepared and of the best prepared and organised British campaigns. organised British campaigns.


The Maori ForceThe Maori Force: : With limited written With limited written evidence estimates of their strength have evidence estimates of their strength have varied greatly. Cycles of varied greatly. Cycles of concentration and concentration and dispersaldispersal were characteristic. On three were characteristic. On three occasions forces of 1000-2000 men occasions forces of 1000-2000 men assembled for up to three months. Total Maori assembled for up to three months. Total Maori mobilisation is estimated as 4000 warriors. mobilisation is estimated as 4000 warriors.

This would only have been possible with a high This would only have been possible with a high degree of co-operative action. degree of co-operative action.


Leaders were Leaders were Rewi Rewi ManiapotoManiapoto of Ngati of Ngati Maniapoto, Maniapoto, Wiremu Wiremu TamehanaTamehana of of Ngatihaua, and Ngatihaua, and Tikaokao Tikaokao of Ngati of Ngati Maniapoto. Maniapoto.


Proclamation of WarProclamation of War On 9 July 1864, Grey issued a Proclamation On 9 July 1864, Grey issued a Proclamation

calling on all Maori living north of the calling on all Maori living north of the Mangatawhiri Mangatawhiri river to take the oath of allegiance river to take the oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria or retire beyond the river.to Queen Victoria or retire beyond the river.

Those who resisted were liable to have land Those who resisted were liable to have land confiscated. This did not reach the Waikato until confiscated. This did not reach the Waikato until after Cameron's troops had crossed the after Cameron's troops had crossed the Mangatawhiri. Mangatawhiri.


INVASIONINVASION The invasion commenced with a small victory at The invasion commenced with a small victory at KoheroaKoheroa

in July 1863.in July 1863. But the advance was then held up for 3 months But the advance was then held up for 3 months by a Defensive line of modern pa at by a Defensive line of modern pa at MeremereMeremere..

when Cameron finally assembled when Cameron finally assembled enough enough men to protect his communications men to protect his communications and and take Meremere the Maori simply take Meremere the Maori simply

abandoned it. abandoned it.

From this point on though Cameron's main advantage From this point on though Cameron's main advantage began to make itself feltbegan to make itself felt

a large and constant flow of resources.a large and constant flow of resources.


The FightingThe Fighting The Maori force used The Maori force used guerilla tacticsguerilla tactics, ,

killing settlers in outlying districts, and killing settlers in outlying districts, and attacking communication lines. attacking communication lines.

Cameron had to tie up three-quarters of Cameron had to tie up three-quarters of his men in protecting communications. his men in protecting communications.

The Maori aim was to block Pakeha The Maori aim was to block Pakeha progress into the Waikato. progress into the Waikato.


The Sequence of FightingThe Sequence of Fighting MeremereMeremere: : A Maori force of about 1500 A Maori force of about 1500

men constructed a pa and held up the men constructed a pa and held up the British advance for 14 weeks, then British advance for 14 weeks, then dispersed. dispersed.


RangiririRangiriri::Cameron was able to mount a Cameron was able to mount a continuous offensive and he caught the Maori continuous offensive and he caught the Maori army only 1/2 assembled at army only 1/2 assembled at RangiririRangiriri, the , the second Maori defensive line, on 20 November.second Maori defensive line, on 20 November. Cameron's army was able to take a lightly Cameron's army was able to take a lightly held part of the fortifications but seven assaults held part of the fortifications but seven assaults against the rest failed with 13 casualties.against the rest failed with 13 casualties. The Maori partly evacuated, although 18 were The Maori partly evacuated, although 18 were taken prisoner.taken prisoner.

Its capture opened up the Waikato. Its capture opened up the Waikato.


NgaruawahiaNgaruawahia: : was occupied by the British was occupied by the British on 9 December. Cameron offered terms on 9 December. Cameron offered terms which were rejected. which were rejected.

however Ngaruawahia held no however Ngaruawahia held no military or economic military or economic

significance, significance, and Maori did not submit. and Maori did not submit.

instead they fortified their third and instead they fortified their third and greatest Waikato line - greatest Waikato line - PaterangiPaterangi..


PaterangiPaterangi: : was by-passed by a brilliant was by-passed by a brilliant British maneuver. This allowed Cameron British maneuver. This allowed Cameron into the heartland of the Waikato. into the heartland of the Waikato. RangiaowhaiRangiaowhai was burned and sacked. was burned and sacked.


Paterangi was an awesome moden pa Paterangi was an awesome moden pa with extensive trench systems; Cameron with extensive trench systems; Cameron realised storming it was impossible so he realised storming it was impossible so he outflanked it in February 1864. outflanked it in February 1864.

This allowed Cameron into the heartland of the Waikato. This allowed Cameron into the heartland of the Waikato. He marched 1200 troops around it He marched 1200 troops around it

at night and sacked the nearby at night and sacked the nearby Maori town of Maori town of RangiaowhiaRangiaowhia

He then withdrew to await the Maori He then withdrew to await the Maori response. response.

TamihanaTamihana knew the superiority of British troops in knew the superiority of British troops in regular warfare and so withdrew from the regular warfare and so withdrew from the Paterangi Paterangi line.line.


The Paterangi operations gave the British The Paterangi operations gave the British one of the three main agricultural one of the three main agricultural heartlands of the Waikato tribes.heartlands of the Waikato tribes.

They also represented the first They also represented the first permanently damaging defeat permanently damaging defeat suffered by Maori in the New suffered by Maori in the New Zealand Wars. Zealand Wars.


OrakauOrakau: : Rewi Rewi ManiapotoManiapoto, forced , forced into a defensive stand into a defensive stand on a un- suitable site, on a un- suitable site, resisted five assaults resisted five assaults before attempting an before attempting an audacious breakout. audacious breakout.


End of Waikato WarEnd of Waikato War CameronCameron decided against advancing decided against advancing

further into the rugged hill country of the further into the rugged hill country of the Ngati Maniapoto. War came to an Ngati Maniapoto. War came to an indecisive end in 1864. indecisive end in 1864.

War in the WaikatoWar in the Waikato The Waikato Wars had no satisfying climax so two were The Waikato Wars had no satisfying climax so two were

inventedinvented One was Orakau which was said to have crushed theOne was Orakau which was said to have crushed the

King MovementKing Movement in fact further modern pa defended the in fact further modern pa defended the remaining economic heartland's of remaining economic heartland's of

WaikatoWaikato

they were never taken and became the they were never taken and became the new new aukati aukati between what became known between what became known as the as the King CountryKing Country and the Pakeha and the Pakeha sphere. sphere.

The second occurred at Tauranga, where the WaikatoThe second occurred at Tauranga, where the Waikato fighting spilled over in 1864fighting spilled over in 1864

war in the waikato

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