Today in History

1843 The Wairau incident

Sometimes known as the ‘Wairau Affray’ or ‘Wairau Massacre’, this was the first serious clash of arms between Maori and the British settlers after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Four Maori and 22 Europeans were killed.

New Zealand Company settlers and Ngati Toa clashed over the ownership of land in the Wairau Valley. Ngati Toa disputed the purchase and obstructed the Company’s surveying of the land, which led to the destruction of some Company property. Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha insisted that the matter be dealt with by William Spain, who had been appointed to head an investigation into all land purchases prior to British annexation. The Company settlers disagreed and believed that Te Rauparaha and his nephew Te Rangihaeata should be brought to justice.

An armed posse of Europeans set out from Nelson to arrest Te Rauparaha. Fighting broke out and a number were killed on both sides, including Te Rongo, the wife of Te Rangihaeata. The surviving Europeans were surrounded and forced to surrender. Te Rauparaha may have been inclined to spare their lives had it not been for Te Rongo’s death. Instead, he accepted his nephew's demand for utu and the surviving European prisoners were killed. Te Rangihaeata killed most of them with his own mere.

The incident heightened fears among settlers of an armed Maori insurrection. When the new Governor, Robert FitzRoy, arrived six months later the settler community demanded action against Ngati Toa. Lacking the resources necessary to fight a war, even if he had been so inclined, FitzRoy earned the wrath of settlers by arguing that the Maori had been provoked by the unreasonable actions of the Europeans.

Image: 'Scene of the Wairau massacre'