The Waitara offer

From 'The Waitara offer', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/taranaki-wars/waitara-dispute, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 7-Jul-2020

Wiremu Kīngi's opposition to the Crown's attempts to purchase land near the mouth of the Waitara River in north Taranaki in 1859 led to the outbreak of war in March 1860. Governor Gore Browne was under increasing pressure from New Plymouth settlers concerned about the future of the province. Men with capital were leaving and it was felt that more should be done to support the Māori who were willing to sell land. Kīngi would have to be put in his place.

Gore Browne met Te Ātiawa leaders and encouraged them to sell any land they were not using. He stressed that he would not buy land for which the title was disputed. But in a thinly veiled threat, he made it clear that he would not allow anyone to interfere in any land deal to which they were not a party.

At this point Te Teira Mānuka indicated his desire to sell the 600-acre Pekapeka block on the south bank of the Waitara River. Gore Browne, advised by Donald McLean, accepted the offer subject to proof of Te Teira's sole claim to the land. Kīngi made clear his opposition to any sale. Gore Browne was increasingly of the view that Kīngi had no customary rights at Waitara, as when the first European settlers arrived he had been living on the Kāpiti Coast.

In April 1859, the governor wrote to both men in an attempt to progress the sale. Te Teira reiterated that ‘no other person’s rights were infringed’ by the offer. Kīngi did not challenge Te Teira’s title, but stressed that as Māori and Pākehā were living in peace it would be wise to let matters lie.

In early December 1859 an instalment of £100 was paid to Te Teira. Kīngi repeated his opposition to the deal and made clear his intention to stop any sale.

In January 1860 the Minister of Native Affairs, C.W. Richmond (a New Plymouth settler), ordered that the survey of the land begin. Premier Edward Stafford made it clear that any disruption to it would have serious consequences. Elderly supporters of Kīngi obstructed the surveyors when they began work on 20 February 1860. Kīngi maintained that he had no desire for war but ‘intended to hold the land’.

Martial law was declared on 22 February and members of the local militia and volunteer force were called out for active service. Outlying settlers began to move in to New Plymouth. HMS Niger was sent to New Plymouth, as was the 65th Regiment under the command of Colonel C.E. Gold.

Camp Waitara was established on the disputed land. Kīngi’s people were forced from their kāinga and he was ordered to destroy any new pā he had built. If he did not do so, he was warned, ‘the blood of your people would be upon your head’. Kīngi's response was to build a fighting pā inside the Pekapeka block and overlooking Camp Waitara.