The Hutt Valley Campaign of 1846 during the Maori Wars could almost be seen as a sequel to the Wairau Massacre. The causes were the same and the protagonists almost the same. The careless or unscrupulous purchase of land from the Maori by the New Zealand Land Company, and the impatience of the settlers to move on to disputed land, were the triggering factors. 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The term Māori Wars, now more commonly referred to as the New Zealand Wars, or sometimes The Land Wars, refers to a series of conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872. ... In New Zealand history, the Wairau Affray on June 17, 1843, also known as the Wairau Massacre in most older texts, was the first serious clash of arms between the Maori natives and the British settlers after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. ... Te Puni, Māori Chief Māori is the name of the indigenous people of New Zealand, and their language. ...

Land ownership

Complicating this was dispute among the Maori as to who owned the land. Originally the area had been occupied by three small tribes (or hapu), Rangitane, Ngati Apa, and Muaupoko. They had been displaced during the Musket Wars by other hapu, Ngati Toa and Ngati Rangitane. Seeing that they had been disposessed of the land, Rangitane did not mind selling it to the Pakeha. Of course the new occupants, who saw themselves as the owners by right of conquest, objected strongly. Meanwhile the New Zealand Company did not question the vendors' right to sell the land. Māori culture is a distinctive part of New Zealand culture. ... Ko Kurahaupo te waka Ko Ruatea te tangata Ko Ngāti Apa te iwi. ... Musket Wars refers to battles in the early 1800s when there was deadly inter-tribal conflict between various groups of Maori, primarily on the North Island in New Zealand. ... The Ngāti Toa iwi is a prominent Maori tribe in central New Zealand. ... Pakeha is a New Zealand English word for European New Zealanders, that is, New Zealanders of predominantly European descent. ... The New Zealand Company formed in 1839 to promote the colonisation of New Zealand. ...

Valley floor

Tension had been high around Wellington since 1842, particularly concerning the fertile bottom land of the Hutt Valley. The occupants, Nga Rangatahi, were determined to retain possession. They assembled a force of about 200 warriors led by Te Rangihaeata, one of the participants in the Wairau Massacre. The British began moving men into the area and by February had assembled nearly a thousand men together with some Maori allies from the Te Atiawa hapu. 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Hutt Valley is the large area of fairly flat land in the Hutt River valley in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. ... Te Rangihaeata was a Maori chief who participated in and perhaps instigated the Wairau Massacre and the Hutt Valley Campaign. ... In New Zealand history, the Wairau Affray on June 17, 1843, also known as the Wairau Massacre in most older texts, was the first serious clash of arms between the Maori natives and the British settlers after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. ...

The conflict started in February 1846 with both sides plundering and destroying each other's property. The British probably struck first when on 27 February they burnt the Maori settlement at Maraenuku. Te Rangihaeata then began to systematically destroy the settlers' farms and property in the Hutt Valley. At this stage he appears to have deliberately avoided attacking persons and caused no casualties; but that soon changed. On 3 March he attacked a company of militia but was driven off. Governor Grey then declared Martial Law and strengthened the garrisons. 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Hutt Valley is the large area of fairly flat land in the Hutt River valley in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... George Edward Grey Statue of Sir George Grey in Albert Park, Auckland Sir George Edward Grey KCB (April 14, 1812 - September 19, 1898 ) was a soldier, explorer, Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony (South Africa), Premier of New Zealand and a writer. ...

On 2 April 1846, two settlers were murdered, possibly by men answering to Te Rangihaeata. On 16 May there was a major attack on a defended position; Boulcott's Farm, one of the most forward homesteads in the Hutt Valley. The siege lasted several hours before reinforcements arrived and the Maori withdrew leaving behind sixteen British casualties. A month later an armed patrol in the same area was ambushed and four men wounded. 2 April is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ...

Porirua area

Meanwhile the British had effected a landing on the coast north of Wellington, New Zealand. They could have attacked the Maori from the rear and also cut off the flow of reinforcemnts from the Wanganui area. Instead the British commander, Major Last, wasted time building a strong fortress at Paremata near Porirua. This gave Te Rangihaeata enough time to build his own fortress or Pa at Pauatahanui (at the eastern end of the harbour) from where he could block any further British advances from that direction. Alternative meanings at Wellington (disambiguation) A view of Wellington from the top of Mount Victoria. ... Wanganui is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Paremata is a suburb of Porirua city, on the Tasman Sea coast to the north of Wellington, New Zealand. ... Porirua is a city in New Zealand, 20 km north of Wellington. ... Pa, Maori word meaning a fortified village or redoubt, described at length in Maori Wars. ...

They successfully defended this against a British attack on 5 August-7 August and then withdrew. August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... August 7 is the 219th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (220th in leap years), with 146 days remaining. ...

End of resistance

Maori leaders retreat northwards

This was effectively the end of the Hutt Valley Campaign. Te Mamaku returned to the Wanganui region. Te Rangihaeata built himself a strong Pa near the Manawatu River from which he was able to block European penetration onto that area until he died in 1856. Hemi Topine Te Mamaku, c1790- June 1887. ... The Manawatu River is a major river of the southern North Island of New Zealand. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Why withdraw?

The Maori were not beaten. Indeed until then they appear to have had the better of all the skirmishes. They simply withdrew and chose to no longer resist European settlement into some areas. There were probably several reasons for this. With their main stronghold in the Wanganui area, some distance north, they were operating with extended supply lines and were short of food and ammunition. This problem was considerably aggravated when a shrewd move by Grey recruted the Te Atiawa to his side.

Further reading

• Barthorp, Michael (1979). To face the daring Māori. Hodder and Stoughton.
• Belich, James (1988). The New Zealand wars. Penguin.
• Belich, James (1996) Making peoples. Penguin Press.
• Simpson, Tony (1979). Te Riri Pakeha. Hodder and Stoughton.
• Sinclair, Keith (ed.) (1996). The Oxford illustrated history of New Zealand (2nd ed.) Wellington: Oxford University Press.
• "The people of many peaks: The Māori biographies". (1990). From The dictionary of New Zealand biographies, Vol. 1, 1769-1869. Bridget Williams Books and Department of Internal Affairs, New Zealand.