Te Kooti's War

Te Kooti's War was one of the New Zealand Wars, the series of conflicts fought between 1845 and 1872 between the Maori and the colonizing British settlers, often referred to as Pakeha. This particular conflict covered most of the East Cape region and the centre of the North Island of New Zealand from July 1868 until mid 1872. It was the longest and in some ways the ugliest and most savage of all the New Zealand Wars.

Flight

Te Kooti and his men fled west and north into the King Country where the Armed Constabulary could not follow them - this would have been seen as a declaration of war. However Kepa and the Wanganui Maori could do so and were just acceptable to the King and his advisors. They continued the pursuit, officially sanctioned by the Government to do so. Gradually Te Kooti was forced north, reaching Taumarunui on 7 January 1870. At some stage he was joined by Kereopa, the infamous eyeball-eater from the Volkner Incident, and between them they mustered about 110 supporters.

Related Topics:
7 January - 1870 - Volkner Incident

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North was the only direction open to them: they crossed the Waikato River and reached the vicinity of Matamata by 15 January. Here a wealthy settler, Josiah Firth, attempted to negotiate with the Government on Te Kooti's behalf, but they demanded his unconditional surrender and this was not acceptable to him. From here the refugees moved south and east, back towards the Rotorua area. His enemies were close behind and occasionally he turned and snapped at his pursuers, causing a few deaths, but always he kept retreating.

Related Topics:
Matamata - 15 January - Josiah Firth

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On 7 February he approached Ohinemutu, now a part of Rotorua but then a major Arawa settlement. Based at Ohinemutu there was normally a force of about 200 Arawa fighters commanded by Gilbert Mair. But they had been posted many kilometres away to the west to assist in the search for the men now approaching their home. In fact they had been very unhappy about this and once it became obvious that Te Kooti had slipped through the net they had insisted on returning to their home base. They traveled in haste through most of the night of 6 February. As dawn rose over the Rotorua area they encountered the trail of Te Kooti and his band. Their forced march then became a desperate race.

Related Topics:
7 February - Ohinemutu - 6 February

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Meanwhile Te Kooti was approaching Ohinemutu. It is unclear what his intentions were - despite the white flag they were assumed to be hostile. Mair and about 30 of his warriors arrived at a run at the last and most dramatic moment. They discarded the white flag being held by an Arawa elder and began shooting at the approaching Ringatu. This was the beginning of a running battle that lasted 24 hours and ended only when Te Kooti fled the area, retreating once again into the Urewera Mountains. He had lost many, including two of his senior lieutenants and quantities of supplies, food, bedding and ammunition.

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Te Kooti was now quite definitely a refugee, a hunted man. In reality he had been since Te Porere four months, before but after Ohinemutu his movements were dictated far more by his pursuing enemies than by his own wishes or plans.

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