The New Zealand Wars 1820–72

The New Zealand Wars 1820–72 cover

Description

Between 1845 and 1872, various groups of Maori were involved in a series of wars of resistance against British settlers. The Maori had a fierce and long-established warrior tradition and subduing them took a lengthy British Army commitment, only surpassed in the Victorian period by that on the North-West Frontier of India. Warfare had been endemic in pre-colonial New Zealand and Maori groups maintained fortified villages or pas. The small early British coastal settlements were tolerated, and in the 1820s a chief named Hongi Hika travelled to Britain with a missionary and returned laden with gifts. He promptly exchanged these for muskets, and began an aggressive 15-year expansion. By the 1860s many Maori had acquired firearms and had perfected their bush-warfare tactics. In the last phase of the wars a religious movement, Pai Maarire ('Hau Hau'), inspired remarkable guerrilla leaders such as Te Kooti Arikirangi to renewed resistance. This final phase saw a reduction in British Army forces. European victory was not total, but led to a negotiated peace that preserved some of the Maori people's territories and freedoms.

Product details

Published 20 Mar 2013
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781780962788
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 8 col
Series Men-at-Arms
Short code MAA 487
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Ian Knight

Ian Knight is widely acknowledged as a leading aut…

Illustrator

Raffaele Ruggeri

Raffaele Ruggeri was born in Bologna where he stil…

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