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.

Retreat and Defeat

Although Te Kooti was in control of the Poverty Bay area, strong forces were being assembled against him. Both Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungungu had mobilized as had the Colonial Militia. He made a tactical withdrawal, first to Makaretu and then back to Ngatapa, where they were soon besieged.

Related Topics:
Ngati Porou - Ngati Kahungungu - Ngatapa

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Ngatapa was very strong but Te Kooti had taken as many as 800 people there, of whom only about 200 were warriors. Everything was in short supply - food, water and ammunition. On 5 January 1869 they began to evacuate the pa, clambering down the cliffs on the north face and escaping into the bush. Some 270 were captured by the besiegers - of these 120 males were killed immediately. This was not done in the heat of battle, but later, after they had been questioned. The actual killing was done mainly by Ropata Wahawaha and the Ngati Porou, but it was sanctioned by the leaders of the Militia, Colonels Whitmore and Richmond, who were present. They did at least try to prevent the killing of the women and children. Many of the men killed were probably present only because they had been Te Kooti's prisoners, captured during his raid on Poverty Bay. To modern minds this massacre seems abhorrent as it would have been to many people of those days. But the laws of utu, the Maori concept of revenge and/or payment are very complex, and often substitute victims were acceptable. Utu was often necessary to bring closure to a conflict.

Related Topics:
5 January - 1869 - Ropata Wahawaha

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The defeat at Ngatapa crippled Te Kooti. It did not end the conflict or the threat of conflict, but hindsight suggests that afterwards Te Kooti was never more than the leader of a dangerous guerilla band. Despite this, he would have one more chance to rekindle the flames of war over the North Island.

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For the New Zealand Government it was a major victory for two reasons. Firstly is was their first success against Te Kooti, always important psychologically. But even more importantly the Government had another war on its hands over on the west coast, in Taranaki. Here Titokowaru was fighting a separate but very dangerous war against the Government. The defeat of Te Kooti provided a respite which enabled the troops to be transferred from one theatre of war to another - seeTitokowaru's War.

Related Topics:
Titokowaru - Titokowaru's War

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