The arms race - musket wars

Musket Wars map

Maori did explore other options in resolving disputes. Diplomacy, arranged marriages, gifts and escape were all employed at various times in avoiding actual fighting. When these methods failed the common response was to seek an advantage by gaining more weapons.

In the Bay of Islands communities sought to arm themselves with muskets in self-defence against Hongi's hapu. Heavily armed northern tribes then attacked those to the south, who had few or no muskets. Panic helped Ngapuhi secure many of its victories. The muskets remained unreliable, but stories of their devastating power were enough to ensure that those who had yet to face them lived in great fear. The spiral of war, trade and more war reached a high point in the early 1820s.

Tribes under attack had no choice but to buy their own guns and launch their own campaigns. In 1822 Ngati Toa, led by Te Rauparaha, fought their way down the North Island from Kawhia to Kapiti. They were joined by sections of other tribes as they went. Waikato tribes led by Te Wherowhero got muskets and attacked several Taranaki iwi. More of these now migrated south to join Ngati Toa in a confederation that came to rival Ngapuhi's. This confederation defeated an opposing alliance before attacking Ngai Tahu in the South Island.

The waning of Ngapuhi

Another taua into Arawa territory (Rotorua) in 1823 involved 3000 Ngapuhi, but the strain was beginning to show. Traditional Maori society lacked the infrastructure to maintain campaigns on this scale – warriors were also needed as farmers and fishermen. When Hongi launched his next taua into Ngati Whatua territory in 1825 it involved a force of only 350.

Ngapuhi dominance had begun to wane as other iwi acquired muskets. Maori were also learning how to adapt their pa to accommodate the use of muskets. Earthworks, trenches and heavier palisades made attack much harder. The demise of Hongi also hastened the end of the large-scale campaigns. He was severely wounded in 1827 while fighting his Ngati Uru kin at Whangaroa. The wound left him partially paralysed until his death in March 1828. Even in death Hongi's enemies were terrified as they feared a revenge attack by Nga Puhi in response to his demise.