Truce in Taranaki

Ngāti Hauā leader Wiremu Tāmihana arrived to negotiate. Kīngi agreed to leave negotiations in Tāmihana’s hands but insisted that Waitara had to be the subject of a judicial inquiry; he would not make peace until Waitara was returned. Tāmihana achieved a truce on 18 March 1861. While Kīngi did not sign the subsequent 'terms of peace', Hapurona did.

Under the terms of the truce agreement, Taranaki Māori were to hand over plundered property and give up those who had killed unarmed civilians. They were also expected to formally submit to the Queen's authority. For its part, the Crown agreed to investigate the Waitara purchase. In reality few Te Ātiawa ever took the Oath; no plunder was returned and no murderers were given up. Europeans were denied the right to cross Māori land - hardly an acknowledgement of the Queen’s authority. The 4000-acre Tātaraimaka block south-west of New Plymouth was seized by Māori as a bargaining chip while Waitara was investigated.

Governor Gore Browne started preparing to invade the Kīngitanga heartland, believing that a long-term solution would require subduing Waikato. He was dismissed and replaced by George Grey before he could do so.