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.

Te Kooti

Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki was born about 1814 into the Ngati Maru sub-tribe of the Maori people in Poverty Bay on the south shore of East Cape. In his early youth he was very wild, causing a great deal of trouble within the tribe and the area. He then became a successful trader, sailing Maori-owned ships up to Auckland and competing successfully with the Pakeha traders.

Related Topics:
Te Kooti - Poverty Bay - Auckland

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Unlike most of the Ngati Manu he did not convert to Pai Marire or Hau Hauism when that new religion swept through the district in 1865. In fact he opposed it actively during the subsequent civil wars (see East Cape War).

Related Topics:
Pai Marire - East Cape War

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Te Kooti fought on the government's side during the siege of Waerenga a Hika in 1865. However he was accused by one of the Maori chiefs of supplying gunpowder to the besieged Hau Hau, his brother being among them, and was arrested. The charge was dismissed and he was released. He was later arrested in March 1866 and charged with spying. There is a suspicion that one of his accusers coveted some land that Te Kooti had refused to sell him. Another suggestion is that the Pakeha traders resented his success as a competitor. It is also clear that many of the kupapa or loyalist Maori wanted him out of the area, seeing him as a dangerous trouble-maker. Before his case was heard he was shipped off to the Chatham Islands along with sundry Hau Hau prisoners of war.

Related Topics:
1865 - Kupapa - Chatham Islands

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During his time of exile Te Kooti underwent various spiritual revelations which formed the basis of a new faith, the Ringa Tu, in English, crudely, the Hand Upheld. He began holding religious services for his fellow prisoners and soon acquired a large following. Initially he preached acceptance but by mid 1868 it became clear that the government had reneged upon its promise to release the prisoners after two years and return them home. This broken promise ignited an anger in Te Kooti that the government soon had cause to regret.

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