Taranaki Wars

From 'Taranaki War map 1860-61', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/taranaki-war-map-1860-61, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 2-Apr-2019

Throughout the 1840s and 1850s New Plymouth settlers lobbied the Crown to buy more land from Māori. In 1859 Te Teira Manuka offered the Pekapeka (Waitara) to the Crown. This offer was opposed by other Te Āti Awa, including Wiremu Kīngi Te Rangitake and his followers.

Following the disruption to the survey of this land in February 1860, martial law was declared and troops occupied the block. War broke out in March with an assault on Te Kohia pā, near the British position at Camp Waitara. A number of other battles followed before a ceasefire was agreed to in March 1861. The underlying issues remained unresolved and fresh fighting broke out in 1863.