The Northern War

Heke had been a supporter of the Treaty. Much has been made of the fact that he was the first chief to sign the agreement. I’ve always assumed the figure in the most well known images (see Treaty or Bust below) depict Heke in the act of signing.

Heke it seemed viewed the treaty as an agreement between him and the crown over control over “their” Pakeha. He was disappointed and felt his mana was diminished by decisions made by Hobson. The imposition of custom duties including a 30% tax on muskets reduced their trade. Speculators followed Hobson to Auckland, moving the capital also reduced his mana took away future trading opportunities.

By 1844 he felt aggrieved enough to attack the symbols that on a daily basis reminded him of his loss. Attacking these symbols would show the Administration his anger and show his Iwi that he still needed to be respected

Hekes War was not universally supported within Nga Puhi. We have already talked about how the Iwi were split into competing Hapu The Hokianga hapu had always harboured a lingering jealousy over the riches their bay of Islands relatives monopolised. In 1844 these hapu were prepared to go to war to support Britain.

Belich makes the point that the Maori combatants on both sides in this war were fighting to retain their Pakeha not to drive them away.

The Northern War is characterised by what we might consider to be the low level nature of much of the fighting. Kororarekas sacking seems to have been an accident or over enthusiasm. Later fighting especially between Maori saw prisoners exchanged at the end of each days fighting. When the British were involved it seems to have been more serious. Puketutu seems to have seen Kawiti and Heke testing the Britisn tactics and weapons. Ohaewai saw the unleashing of tactics designed to maximise Maori weapons by weakening British firepower.

The only battle that was lost by Heke was one which did not even include the British. When Imperial troops were involved they characteristically failed to make any impression. Kawitis description of Despard as a ‘very stupid person’ seems particularly apt. Reliance on the 19^th century version of ‘shock and awe’ frontal assaults into prepared positions meant death to troops who were poorly led.

Battles atPuketutu andOhaewai were effective draws, although a British regiment could never admit as much. They claimed to have inflicted high casualty rates, which the Maori masked by taking their dead and wounded with them. They claimed victories because they occupied Pa sites. Belich notes that these sites were military and economic nullities – empty vessels that had drawn the British into killing fields.

Grey arrived in time for Ruapekapeka, a mixed bag of victories and losses for both sides. Kawiti was unable to spring the trap he had hoped for. Grey had not won a battle nor had he had killed, wounded or captured the ‘rebels’.

The war now drifted to a close. Britain claimed overall victory but surprisingly inflicted now penalties upon the losers. Despite Heke’s best efforts economic wealth would now drift southward and so would the conflict.

The one new innovation of the war was Kawitis development of the Modern pa. No longer the ‘gunfighter’ pa of the Musket Wars, but a new easily constructed (and abandoned) masterpiece of wood and earth that could withstand almost anything the British army could throw at it. These ‘curiously hollowed out’ trench and bunker systems would confound and confuse the British for another 20 years

A Challenge to the Empire

One of the chiefs at Waitangi shook hands with Hobson and commented that he was sick and would die soon. Hobson did in deed suffer a stroke and was effectively laid up for several months until he died.

He did manage to make some crucial decisions. He annexed the South Island by ‘right of discovery’ which conveniently allowed Britain to claim the South Island before the expected French settlers could and before his emissaries could drag copies down there.

We’ve discussed the fact that it may also have been easy to do because there were so few Ngai Tahu around to negotiate with. Despite this annexation the treaty was still taken south and was signed at three sites in the South Island.

The other decision was to move the capital south toAuckland. As I mentioned in class this was prompted by the political necessity of placing the European capital between the two largets concentrations of Maori in the country….Nga Puhi in the north (today still the largest individual Iwi) and the various Waikato Iwi (Waikato, Tainui etc.).

This was at the invitation of Ngati Whatua who conveniently acquired Pakeha who would allow them to trade giving them economic security and ensured their safety from the encroachments of other Iwi.

Wellington settlers saw ££££ and wanted the Capital moved there but this would have legitimised the NZ Co. claims to the lands they claimed.

At first the relationship with Maori was relatively quiet. Various Iwi sought out the Pakeha to sell land, seeking the same advantages that Ngati Whatua had acquired. Crown pre-emption meant land could only be transferred to the Government. Auckland isthmus was sold for about £200 but local Maori were horrified when they saw it auctioned for thousands of pounds. This meant Maori preferred the offers made by settlers not the pittance offered by Government officials.

Reluctance to sell to Hobson or his replacement Shortland, left the Government short of cash. Great Britain expected their colonies to be sefl funding. Shortland and later his replacement Fitzroy found it difficult to finance Government activities, and were forced to issue Government Bonds(Loans) which they were not authorised to do.

In other parts of the Colony the New Zealand Company sites were also struggling as disputes over what their agents had actually purchased limited their expansionist ambitions.

Wellington could not convince Maori to give up the Hutt Valley and quietly fumed at the Maori refusal to give up Waste land.

Whanganui and New Plymouth were also struggling as Maori who had left these areas returned because ironically the presence of Pakeha made the areas safe for them to re-establish Ahi Kaa over these lands.

At Nelson settler became increasingly unhappy about the lack of land. They claimed the nearby Wairau Plains. This was claimed by right of conquest by Ngati Toa.

When Company surveyors had their pegs removed and their Raupo huts destroyed the settler decided to establish the ‘rule of law’ and a Magistrate issued an arrest warrant for Te Rauparaha. I’ve already described the tragically comic events that followed and the utu that saw 17 settlers executed by Te Rangihaeata.

Settlers called Fitzroys decision pusillanimous, we would probably see it as realistic. A traditional approach to the death of so many settlers would normally have seen the might of Britain descend upon the Ngati Toa. Warriors would have died, Pa and Kainga and fields destroyed, and the natural order restored. He didn’t because the warrant was illegal, you can’t be arrested for destroying something that belongs to you.

It was a tacit acknowledegement that outside the areas of settlement,New Zealand remained a Maori country.

Annexation of the Country

That we have a the treaty is generally well known, although I dare say that while everyone in the country is aware of the treaty few are really familiar either with the treaty itself or why one was needed.

It has unfortunately fallen into disrepute, mainly through the machinations of vested interests, both Pakeha and Maori. Some people want the Treaty forgotten, using arguments about its relevance and its necessity.

Most of these people have little understanding of the historical basis for the 1840 decisions, nor do they understand the language used in the treaty which is the foundation of claims and counterclaims made today. Hopefully over the last week you have gained a greater appreciation of the Treaty debate.

For our purposes we are concerned with why a Britain and Maori sought an accommodation. The Treaty required both parties to be willing to take part, however what was offered or expected did not always mesh.

Britain as we discussed in class sought to legitimise their relationship with the Maori. They were concerned over the possible settlement of the country by private companies like the New Zealand Company led by Wakefield. Clashes between Settlers and Maori could be disastrous if there were no military presence.

The "Tory" arrived in Whanganui-a-Tara (Port Nicholson) shortly before Hobson arrived in the Bay of Islands. This coincidence panicked both parties. The Company wanted to acquire as much land as possible before a colony was announced. They hoped to forestall any limitations that might be created should the Government place a moratorium on land sales.

For his part Hobson wanted to legitimise his position and to stop both the Company or anyone else for that matter from infringing on British sovereignty in New Zealand. Thus his apparent haste at writing, translating and negotiating the Treaty at Waitangi.

Besides the Company there were also the possible arrival of the French or Americans. French settlers were rumoured to be headed for Akaroa on Banks peninsula. This may explain his decision to claim the South Island on the basis of discovery (by Cook) rather than by negotiation. It would have taken to long to travel to the South Island. Surprisingly the treaty was still taken south to the Ngai Tahu who signed at three sites.

From our work in class you will be aware of the various points of view expressed at the meeting on the 5^th February. Its seems to have been equally weighted for and against with the matter evenly balanced. Kawiti had argued against it as he distrusted the Missionaries until some important chiefs like Waka Nene spoke in favour of it.

The language of the treaty is extremely important especially in the Maori version. Kawanatanga means governorship, Rangatiratanga means sovereignty.

Consider your textbooks. They belong to the school who has Rangatiratanga over them. You are looking after them, you have Kawanatanga.

Claudia Orange has made the point that the first article should have used the term 'Mana', but Williams who helped translate it knew Chiefs would never have agreed to this.

Maori claims through the 19^th and into the 20^th century against the treaty are all based on the second article which assures Maori of their ownership of their lands, fisheries, taonga etc.

The “fourth article” at Pompalliers prompting assured religious freedom, much to the consternation of the CMS/WMS who had hoped for an extension of the State religion status accorded to the Anglican church in Britain.

Several Missionaries spoke at the meeting. All extolled the virtues and advantages a treaty would bring Maori. As we mentioned in class the idea of a covenant between the Queen and Maori was presented, reinforced by Maori understanding of the Bible where covenants were sacred agreements made between Man and God. Maori (apart from Kawiti) had few reasons to disbelieve or question the motives of the Missionary(s).

The treaty was then copied and sent to the south. However Orange has made the point that other chiefs who signed often did so on the basis that the Hui at Waitangi having already thrashed out the pros and cons of signing and that if Nga Puhi thought it a good idea then they to should sign.

(New 2008) Maori protocols said that a Hui of any standing would thrash out all of the arguments for and against the proposition. A traditional Hui would have continued until everyone had reached agreement. Traders and Missionaries who carried the Treaty around the country may well have exploited this belief, encouraging other chiefs to sign the document.

Britain soon decided that the 500 Maori who signed the treaty represented enough of a sample to announce annexation of the whole country. Again this shows the lack of awareness of the makeup of Maori society and the tribal nature of their culture.

Cmap - Treaty of Waitangi

This is the one I was working on today in the Com Lab... This isn't nearly as complex or complicated as I could have made it. There are some interesting ideas here which are covered in the Addendum we've gone through in class. But it will help you get the events and themes into some sort of logical order.

Cmaps - Missionaries

Once again follow the ideas... click on the image to see a bigger version.

The 1830's Britain arrives

Towards the end of the 1830’s several things came to a head to force Britain into New Zealand. As late as 1838 after Hobson’s reported that GB would be best served by establishing the Indian style factories. The settlements would be British but their hinterland would be Maori. This of course presupposed that British interest in New Zealand lay only in exploitation of its resources by traders…

In 1839 the Colonial Office was prepared to send Hobson back to negotiate such a plan, and then in the space of only a few months this became a decision to annexe the whole country – albeit with the agreement of as many chiefs as possible.

Missionary pressure had originally been against any increase in British presence so that they could complete their ‘civilise and convert’ mission. However this changed in the late 1830’s and they became more inclined toward a treaty of some sort. This may have been because of the French and the imminent arrival of settlers.

Bishop Pompalliers arrival was alarming for the CMS/WMS. They had had the country to themselves and were happily converting Maori to the Anglican religion. Pompallier threatened them in two ways, he was French and he was Catholic. Its debateable which of these two evils they feared the most. But fear them they did. The missionaries expected Britain to be the dominant presence in New Zealand, any chance that it might become French and thus Catholic was unacceptable. Their monopoly on Native souls was threatened and they did not want them tainted by Papist heresy. New Zealand as a British colony would ensure their legitimacy and their dominance. They were able to feed off the anti-French sentiments in Busby’s communications to the Government.

In their own way they could influence the Government. Stephen at the Colonial Office has been described as the most powerful man in the British Empire. The Office oversaw the running of the entire Empire from Australia, India, the Caribbean and North Africa. Nothing happened anywhere without their knowledge, and if the Government needed to know anything they asked Stephen.

Stephen for his part was an Evangelical Christian. He was also an important member of the CMS. Communications from the missions in New Zealand inevitably found their way across his desk.

Interest in New Zealand as a possible site for settlement had existed for some time. Many people saw this a way of making money and so there was great interest in exploiting the situation. There were several iterations of the New Zealand Association/Company. The first sent settlers in 1825 but this attempt failed and the Company also failed.

In Britain in the 1830’s settlement again raised its head. It was best represented by the Company set up by Edward Gibbon Wakefield. We have covered his early career in class and there will be a handout covering him in more detail, later.

Many of the people involved in his scheme were also involved in the Government, including several members of Parliament. As 1838 moved into 1839 the Company and the Government eyed each other warily. The Company feared the intrusion of the Government into their affairs, especially the supply of cheap land their scheme relied upon.

For their part the Government were worried that an unfettered influx of settlers would result in disputes with the Maori that would inevitably require an armed intervention by the Government. Humanitarian sentiments meant that they could not allow this to happen.

When Hobson arrived in Port Jackson his expected status had changed from Britain’s Consul to New Zealand to Lieutenant Governor of the Colony.

Britain is dragged into New Zealand

In 1831 Yate persuaded 13 northern chiefs to sign the “Letter to King William.” This petition sought British protection from the French. It seemed that the good Mister Yate used the arrival of the French ship ‘la Favourite’ to stir up the Chiefs into believing that France was about to annexe New Zealand and would take the opportunity to take revenge for the murder of Marion du Fresne some 40 years earlier… as it turns out the French ship was simply continuing their tradition of scientific research and left without doing much at all.

What is interesting is that by recognising the letter Britain gave some semblance of recognition of the country itself. Combined with the terrible events surrounding the Elizabeth affair it was enough to encourage the Colonial office under Stephen to look at some way of controlling the behaviour of British citizens in the islands.

Sending a Resident would help to alleviate the situation. Instructions sent to the Governor in Sydney were relayed with the expectation that he would provide a suitable candidate. By all accounts James Busby was an irritating twit. He seems to have continually sought higher office within the administration of the Governor and did not seem to realise how annoying he was. The new position of resident allowed the Governor to fulfil the Colonial office instructions and to rid himself of a pest at the same time. Unfortunately he disliked Busby so much he refused to provide him with all of the things necessary for the job. A ship, troops were denied him, he even had to plead for the house he needed to live in. Busby had plans for a 500 pound house drawn up, the Governor reduced it to 250 pounds. The problem of course was that while Port Jackson had to provide the Resident they were unwilling to pay for him – there were no taxes to be collected in New Zealand.

A Resident is just about the lowest position available in Diplomatic circles. It ranks below Consul and Ambassador. A resident has few powers and would not normally do more than represent his countries views to his hosts. By appointing Busby however this appears to be a tacit recognition of New Zealand as a sovereign nation.

Busby was expected to do little except keep the peace. Without any formal backup he failed miserably. Thus, the unkind name given to him of “Man’o’war without guns’. He was left in the position of writing letters to anyone who would listen. But he was not entirely witless and recognised the need for an ensign that would allow New Zealand built ships to be registered and allowed to trade with Sydney without being confiscated.

The Flag chosen in 1834 was negotiated by Busby and a number of Northern Chiefs. Its design was one of three presented to them. When it was gazetted by the Admiralty it again reinforcedthe view of New Zealand as an independent state.

The following year Busby again exceeded his authority and negotiated with 35 Northern chiefs and created the Declaration of Independence. This was also sent to Great Britain and again it was recognised by the Government.

In the meantime Baron De Theirry had arrived in the North causing a mild panic amongst some, apart from Busby who sent off a number of wild letters to the Governor and the Colonial office concerning an imminent takeover by the ‘King’ of New Zealand. Luckily for Busby the Nga Puhi of the Hokianga were less than impressed with the Frenchman’s claims to 40,000 acres (sold to him in 1820 by Hika) and allowed him only a few hundred. His French settler promptly rioted and left. Poor old De Theirry ended his days as a piano teacher in Auckland.

There was also growing French interest in Akaroa and Busby continued to bombard the Colonial Office with letters of annexation in the south. Not only were the French a colonial threat but the large numbers of American whalers and the appointment of an American Consul (Clendon) was also a matter of concern.

My Dads Birthday

My Dads birthday today made me consider something. My kids called their Koro and told him all about their day and how much they were looking forward to seeing him next week. He's old of course (but fit) but when I told the kids how old it seemed to fly over their heads which made me think...What had he lived through?

Well lets see...

• He was born and lived through the worst of the Great Depression. Living in rural New Zealand cannot have been easy.
• The rise of the fascists and the appeasement process that blighted the late 1930's.
  
• His brothers left to fight in the Second World War and suffered through their capture in Crete and their incarceration for the duration of the war.
• The end of the various Fascist regimes in Germany, Italy and Japan.
• After WWII the Cold War began, with all the attendant paranoia that came with it.
• The betrayal of both the Palestinians and Jews in Israel and the on-going violence in the Middle East.
  
• He joined the Maori diaspora from the rural East Coast to seek work in and around the Country.
• The Korean War.
  
• Eventually he joined the Navy and travelled around the world.
• He met my Mum and she came to New Zealand to marry and raise a family.
• They settled on the North Shore, close to the Naval Base in Devonport.
  
• He was sent to Malaysia to fight in the 'Emergency'.
• He was supposed to observe the Nuclear testing at Christmas Island but was left behind to play for Navy in an important rugby game... many of those sailors and their children now suffer various forms of radiation poisoning.
• We sent 'White' teams to play the Springboks in the 1950's, '60's and '70's
  
• Britain joining the EEC and the effect on our economy.
  
• The Vietnam War.
• The 'Muldoon' era including the infamous 'dawn raids'
  
• Three major wars in the between Israel and various Arab nations. (1948-67-73)
  
• Rogernomics and the economic Boom of the 1980's.
• The subsequent crash of 1987 that ended a lot of peoples fortunes.
• The release of Nelson Mandela and the fall of Apartheid in the 1990's.
• The fall of the Berlin Wall and with it Communism.
• Desert Storm
• 9/11 and the War on Terrorism.
  

I may add more later, but its a lot isn't it? Consider this one of those odd digressions I wander off on in class! It would be nice to know that some of you considered asking your own Koro/Kuia about their lives.