Beginnings - Musket Wars

Hongi Hika: Warrior chief

The start of the Musket Wars is attributed to the Ngapuhi chief Hongi Hika. An important influence on Hongi's leadership was the defeat of Ngapuhi by Ngati Whatua in the battle of Moremonui, at Maunganui Bluff, Northland in 1807 or 1808. Though some Ngapuhi were armed with muskets, they were successfully ambushed by Ngati Whatua using traditional hand-held weapons, who took advantage of the time it took Ngapuhi to reload the muskets. Hongi's uncle and two brothers were killed. Hongi survived by hiding in a swamp. Hongi felt obliged to avenge this defeat. By 1815 he was the undisputed leader of his people and was convinced of the usefulness of muskets if employed in sufficient numbers.

Hongi set about establishing contact with European visitors to the Bay of Islands as well as venturing to Sydney in 1814. Here he met Samuel Marsden of the Church Missionary Society, whom he encouraged to go ahead with his plan to establish a mission at the Bay of Islands. The mission was set up later that year under Hongi's protection. European ships now came to the Bay of Islands in greater numbers. By guaranteeing their safety Hongi knew that his opportunities to trade food and supplies for European technology, including tools and weapons, would be greatly increased. Other mission stations were established under his protection at Kerikeri and Waimate North.

Hongi's monopoly of the relationship with the missionaries saw other leaders complain to Marsden. Hongi for his part was angered by the fact that the missionaries refused to trade in muskets and powder. But he made the most of the iron tools and agricultural implements they were willing to trade.

Having captured many slaves from his campaigns in the south from 1818 on he put them to work increasing the yield from his land. While he experimented with wheat and corn, his main effort was to ensure that sufficient quantities of potatoes and flax was grown to exchange for muskets and powder with the crews of visiting ships. Initially muskets didn't come cheap. Some locals starved as priority was given to selling pork and potatoes to visiting Europeans.

As he acquired guns Hongi set about seeking utu (revenge) from Ngati Whatua for the defeat suffered in 1807.  In 1818 he headed further south, leading a taua as far as Tolaga Bay on the East Coast. This led to the destruction of 50 villages. Approximately 2000 slaves were taken so that they could be put to work dressing flax to help buy more muskets. In 1821 Hongi attacked rivals in the Auckland-Coromandel region, capturing another 2000 slaves.

Hongi Hika and Thomas Kendall

In 1820 Hongi and the young chief Waikato accompanied the missionary Thomas Kendall to Cambridge, England where they were to assist with the compilation of a Maori dictionary. Hongi was more interested in getting his hands on some of the ‘thousand thousand guns' he had heard were stored in the Tower of London.

Hongi met King George IV and was presented with a suit of armour described as a ‘coat of mail' and other gifts. Hongi traded most of his gifts in Sydney on the way home for 300 muskets. He kept the suit of armour, which saved his life during a battle with Ngati Paoa at Mauinaina, beside the Tamaki River, when he was hit twice by musket shots. His survival gained him a reputation for invulnerability.

This boost to his arsenal not only altered the balance of power in the Bay of Islands but prompted an arms race the consequences of which would be felt throughout most of New Zealand over the next two decades.