Notes

Contents: The end of Maori isolation -- Waikato conquest of Taranaki, 1822 and 1831 -- Maori cultural revolution and calls for help, 1830s -- Humanitarian colonisation, 1937 -- New Zealand Company buys Taranaki from Te Atiawa in 1839 and in 1840 -- Slaves return from Waikato to Taranaki, 1841 and 1842 -- Governor Hobson pays Waikato for Taranaki, 1842 -- Inaction over killing at Wairau, 1843 -- Commissioner Spain recognises the sale of Taranaki, 1844 -- Governor Fitzroy sets aside Spain's ruling -- Rebellions of Hone Heke and Te Rauparaha, 1844 to 1847 -- Governor Grey's quandary with Taranaki land, 1847 -- An official threat to Maori land, 1847 -- Disputes among Te Atiawa -- Te Atiawa warriors return to Taranaki from Waikanae, 1848 -- Te Atiawa feuds -- Maori calls for law -- The idea of a king -- Governor Browne's promise of a runanga, April 1857 -- Differences among Waikata Maori, May 1857 -- A Maori monarch, June 1858 -- The promise of law in Taranaki, March 1859 -- The sale of the Pekapeka block at Waitara, 1859 -- Fighting starts in Taranaki, March 1860 -- Narrow escape of Parris, May 1860 -- Kingite meeting, Ngaruawahia, May 1860 -- Maniapoto join Taranaki fighting -- Death of Te Wherowhero, Potatau I, June 1860 -- British defeat at Puke-ta-kauere, June 1860 -- Ihaia celebrates many payments for Waitara, July 1860 -- National meeting of chiefs, Kohimarama, July and August 1860 -- Shared concerns of kingites and loyalists -- Rebel defeat at Mahoetahi, November 1860 -- Taranaki peace, march and april 1861 -- Governor Browne's declaration, May 1861 -- Rely from a runanga, June 1861 -- Replies from Wiremu Tamihana, June 1861 -- Waikato plan to attack Auckland, 1861 -- Maori land sales, and holdings, 1861 -- Governor Grey and revitalised runanga, 1861 -- Governor Grey in Waikato, December 1861 -- Effects of Premier Fox, 1861 and 1862 -- Building roads, 1862 -- A further effort for peace, Grey to Waikato, January 1863 -- Aggression in the Waikato, March and April, 1863 -- Grey holds Tataraimaka, abandons Waitara. The second Taranaki war, Arpil 1863 -- Ngapuhi offer support to the government, June 1863 -- Skirmishes in south Auckland, July to October 1863 -- Wiremu Tamihana writes of war, July 1863 -- War in the Waikato, 1863 and 1864 -- attacks on Arawa, 1864 -- Stimulus for rebellion -- Confiscations -- Wiremu Tamihana makes a separate peace, May 1865 -- In the King country, 1864-1878 -- Waitara meeting, June 1878 -- Meeting at Te Kopua, May 1879 -- Return to Waikato, 1881 -- Waitara today -- Conclusions -- Appendix: Full text of replies from Wiremu Tamihana, June 1861.
Summary: Two opposing flags were flown at an 1857 Waikato meeting of Maoris, where those intending to establish a Maori king were challenged by a second group flying the Union Jack. The proposed "king" was not accepted by all Waikato Maori; there never was consesus or unity. Across the country some Maori came to support this new king but far more were opposed. Chiefs at the Kohimarama conference in 1860, the largest conference of chiefs ever held in New Zealand, voiced their dismay and opposition to the king movement. An offer of assistance for the Government came from the Ngapuhi in 1863; in 1864 Arawa defeated kingite reinforcements; in 1869 friendly natives, including Ngati Kahungunu, defeated Te Kooti, resulting in the withdrawal of kingites from a possible new rebel coatlition. A key resaon for the birth of the king movement had been the failure of the new government to provide universal law and order. The British wanted to bring a new, improved form of colonisation in which many native customs would be respected. But for some years British law was not enforced in back country regions where Maori were predominant. Consequently Tamihana Te Rauparaha called for a Maori "king" to bring the much-needed, firm government. However, he became opposed to it after kingite supporters joined the Taranaki rebellion. Other leaders had different ideas. Wiremu Tamihana (the "kingmaker") spoke of having co-existing soveriegns, which was absurd in law and unworkable in practice.