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The New Zealand Wars / Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa
The New Zealand Wars were a series of conflicts that profoundly shaped the course and direction of New Zealand history.Fought between the Crown and various groups of Māori between 1845 and 1872, the wars touched many aspects of life in nineteenth-century New Zealand, even in those regions spared actual fighting. Physical remnants or reminders from these conflicts and their aftermath can be found all over the country, whether in central Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, or in more rural locations such as Te Pōrere or Te Awamutu.Following on from the best-selling The Great War for New Zealand, Vincent O'Malley's new book provides a highly accessible introduction to the causes, events and consequences of the New Zealand Wars. The text is supported by extensive full-colour illustrations as well as timelines, graphs and summary tables.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
38 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Vincent O'Malley
16 books33 followersVincent O'Malley is a New Zealand historian who has written extensively on the history of Maori and Pakeha (European) relations in that country. He hold BA (Hons) and PhD degrees from the University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington respectively and is a partner in HistoryWorks, a Wellington-based historical research consultancy that specialises in the Treaty of Waitangi.
His books include The New Zealand Wars/Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa (BWB, 2019), The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800-2000 (BWB, 2016), Haerenga: Early Maori Journeys Across the Globe (BWB, 2015), Beyond the Imperial Frontier: The Contest for Colonial New Zealand (BWB, 2014), The Meeting Place: Maori and Pakeha Encounters, 1642-1840 (AUP, 2012, NZ Post Book Awards finalist, 2013), The Treaty of Waitangi Companion: Maori and Pakeha From Tasman to Today (with Bruce Stirling and Wally Penetito) (AUP, 2010), The Beating Heart: A Political and Socio-Economic History of Te Arawa (with David Armstrong) (Huia, 2008), and Agents of Autonomy: Maori Committees in the Nineteenth Century (Huia, 1998).
His books include The New Zealand Wars/Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa (BWB, 2019), The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800-2000 (BWB, 2016), Haerenga: Early Maori Journeys Across the Globe (BWB, 2015), Beyond the Imperial Frontier: The Contest for Colonial New Zealand (BWB, 2014), The Meeting Place: Maori and Pakeha Encounters, 1642-1840 (AUP, 2012, NZ Post Book Awards finalist, 2013), The Treaty of Waitangi Companion: Maori and Pakeha From Tasman to Today (with Bruce Stirling and Wally Penetito) (AUP, 2010), The Beating Heart: A Political and Socio-Economic History of Te Arawa (with David Armstrong) (Huia, 2008), and Agents of Autonomy: Maori Committees in the Nineteenth Century (Huia, 1998).
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 17, 2022
Man, fuck the British Empire. They are everything they accuse indigenous peoples of being: stupid savage lying thieves. They dispossess the other of their land, sovereignty, and culture through juridical obfuscation and military violence. It's telling that when one tactic doesn't work they swap to the other; that when talk fails they invade. They're the fuckboys of capitalism, pushing and pushing the limits of those they encounter until acquiescence or violation. Behind the façade of liberal progress is capital drenched in blood. They can't even follow their own laws: they murder unarmed prisoners, burn down civilian villages and crops, rape women, maim children; they arrest Māori leaders through false accusations, and imprison and execute them without trial. Even Cameron, one of the leading Pākehā generals of the Crown, resigned in disgust during the Land Wars. He was by no means an ally, but he saw the cruelty of the Crown firsthand, and he came to understand that Māori were fighting for their literal lives, not for property and profit.
The best part about this book is its emphasis on the technological and strategic innovations of Māori leaders and soldiers (they had trenches, trapdoors, and underground tunnels — a century before WW1 and the Vietnam War). There are many times Māori are outnumbered by British forces and yet they fuck shit up anyway. When British forces finally defeat them, all they gain are empty garrisons. It's hilarious. Yet, despite these victories, British forces overwhelm them in the long run with sheer numbers (received from predominantly Ireland). They commit cruel and illegal massacres, evictions, occupations, and blockades that terrorise Māori civilians into siding with the Crown. Despite the mana of Māori combatants, non-combatants are disrespected, starved, tortured, and killed by imperialist forces. Māori resistance is demonised by the Crown as savage, fanatical, and unreasonable, despite repeated assertions from Māori leaders that all they desire is peace and co-sovereignty, as legally enshrined in the Treaty of Waitangi.
There's something deeply tragic and perverse about the Land Wars, for even though it was settler demands for land that drove the Crown's forces, it was the Crown that had promised settlers of a new start, first and foremost. The settlers' resentment of Māori was driven by Crown lies over a romanticised terra nullius — a paradise to settle and shape. Furthermore, many Māori and Pākehā got along fine before this shit. It was the New Zealand state's forceful confiscation of Māori land that led to resistance. Māori were pushed into a corner, then villainised for fighting back. Honestly, what the fuck would you do if the state illegally claimed your home, burned your crops, and imprisoned your partner without trial? What would you do if this was happening all across the country to families specifically of your ethnic group? It was genocide.
This book is heavy on concrete details (military conflicts, factions, leaders, numbers, deaths, and so on), and light on economic and political analyses. It's a little frustrating to read a book about the theft of land and not once get a definition of primitive accumulation, capitalism, or heck even globalisation. O'Malley states that it was racism that led to British generals underestimating Māori soldiers, as well as settlers feeling aggrieved over their lack of land (which was seen as occupied by those inferior to themselves). There's no deeper analysis of where such racist ideas come from, and how they support imperialist violence, slavery, and cultural genocide, as well as the accumulation of capital. I would argue that you can't understand the Land Wars without an understanding such things. You can't understand the depth and continuing effects of the Land Wars without an understanding of what drove them (the material system of capitalism and the ideological system of racism). Racism is a complex of ideas, from the Christian civilising mission and manifest destiny to phrenology and degeneration theory; it modulates between condescending paternalism and violent xenophobia, built atop a foundation of white supremacy. The ways Pākehā still scoff at the idea of Māori sovereignty and reparations is a continuation of such imperialist hatred and ignorance.
E hoa, ka whawhai tonu mātou, Āke! Āke! Āke!
The best part about this book is its emphasis on the technological and strategic innovations of Māori leaders and soldiers (they had trenches, trapdoors, and underground tunnels — a century before WW1 and the Vietnam War). There are many times Māori are outnumbered by British forces and yet they fuck shit up anyway. When British forces finally defeat them, all they gain are empty garrisons. It's hilarious. Yet, despite these victories, British forces overwhelm them in the long run with sheer numbers (received from predominantly Ireland). They commit cruel and illegal massacres, evictions, occupations, and blockades that terrorise Māori civilians into siding with the Crown. Despite the mana of Māori combatants, non-combatants are disrespected, starved, tortured, and killed by imperialist forces. Māori resistance is demonised by the Crown as savage, fanatical, and unreasonable, despite repeated assertions from Māori leaders that all they desire is peace and co-sovereignty, as legally enshrined in the Treaty of Waitangi.
There's something deeply tragic and perverse about the Land Wars, for even though it was settler demands for land that drove the Crown's forces, it was the Crown that had promised settlers of a new start, first and foremost. The settlers' resentment of Māori was driven by Crown lies over a romanticised terra nullius — a paradise to settle and shape. Furthermore, many Māori and Pākehā got along fine before this shit. It was the New Zealand state's forceful confiscation of Māori land that led to resistance. Māori were pushed into a corner, then villainised for fighting back. Honestly, what the fuck would you do if the state illegally claimed your home, burned your crops, and imprisoned your partner without trial? What would you do if this was happening all across the country to families specifically of your ethnic group? It was genocide.
This book is heavy on concrete details (military conflicts, factions, leaders, numbers, deaths, and so on), and light on economic and political analyses. It's a little frustrating to read a book about the theft of land and not once get a definition of primitive accumulation, capitalism, or heck even globalisation. O'Malley states that it was racism that led to British generals underestimating Māori soldiers, as well as settlers feeling aggrieved over their lack of land (which was seen as occupied by those inferior to themselves). There's no deeper analysis of where such racist ideas come from, and how they support imperialist violence, slavery, and cultural genocide, as well as the accumulation of capital. I would argue that you can't understand the Land Wars without an understanding such things. You can't understand the depth and continuing effects of the Land Wars without an understanding of what drove them (the material system of capitalism and the ideological system of racism). Racism is a complex of ideas, from the Christian civilising mission and manifest destiny to phrenology and degeneration theory; it modulates between condescending paternalism and violent xenophobia, built atop a foundation of white supremacy. The ways Pākehā still scoff at the idea of Māori sovereignty and reparations is a continuation of such imperialist hatred and ignorance.
E hoa, ka whawhai tonu mātou, Āke! Āke! Āke!
August 6, 2019
This book very neatly ties together a timeline and the main drivers of the NZ Wars along with brief accounts of the events themselves. It's a summary. I had previously read a lot of stories of individual events and circumstances but lacked a coherent understanding of the bigger picture until I read this book. My previous high point had been James Belich's writing which I felt was long overdue at the time.
I was fortunate at primary school to have a teacher who knew the appalling history of South Taranaki and who told us about it including the actions of military and civilians (sometimes the same) like Chute, McDonnell and Bryce, the military genius of Titokowaru, the peaceful protests, Parihaka and the confiscations. It was smart and brave of her as many of the farmers' children she taught were paying peppercorn rentals on their farm leases and making a profit from dairying because of that. Also in the class were many Maori children and our teacher explained to all of us enough of what happened and how people lived that we could make up our own minds. She was way ahead of the understanding of most locals although at community events, of which there were many, there was usually a serious attempt to be at least inclusive if not quite bicultural. I grew up feeling very uneasy but I'm not sure others did.
Every NZer should have an understanding of what is in this book if we are to truly understand ourselves and have a realistic hope for the future.
I was fortunate at primary school to have a teacher who knew the appalling history of South Taranaki and who told us about it including the actions of military and civilians (sometimes the same) like Chute, McDonnell and Bryce, the military genius of Titokowaru, the peaceful protests, Parihaka and the confiscations. It was smart and brave of her as many of the farmers' children she taught were paying peppercorn rentals on their farm leases and making a profit from dairying because of that. Also in the class were many Maori children and our teacher explained to all of us enough of what happened and how people lived that we could make up our own minds. She was way ahead of the understanding of most locals although at community events, of which there were many, there was usually a serious attempt to be at least inclusive if not quite bicultural. I grew up feeling very uneasy but I'm not sure others did.
Every NZer should have an understanding of what is in this book if we are to truly understand ourselves and have a realistic hope for the future.
September 27, 2020
Great overview of the land wars . A lot of information Id never learnt in school including the fact Māori created their own religion Pai Mārire that grew in membership and followers during the land wars.
I found it more digestible as it had pictures that cut up the text and gave more context.
I found it more digestible as it had pictures that cut up the text and gave more context.
July 17, 2019
Very good summary of current scholarship on the New Zealand Wars. Gives much more space to Maori perspectives and evidence than most previous works on this fascinating topic, which is long overdue. The only real drawback of this book in my view is that it is too short to be fully comprehensive, but still great for anyone wanting an up to date overview of this section of our history.
April 25, 2023
Such a good and tragic read. Crucial for all New Zealanders to read this and know these stories for us to be able to move forward as a nation. How can Māori be understood and empathised with if you have no knowledge of Parihaka? How can we build a bi-cultural nation when Rangiaowhia and Ōrākau aren't even known by many Pakeha today?
Sadly, these stories have been largely championed for all the wrong reasons and then ignored as O'Malley points out. Thankfully the tide is turning. As a 29 year old primary teacher I'm thankful to learn these stories now and not in my old age. I'm gutted and embarrassed that it's taken this long to read them. I hope to put them to good use for the rangitahi of today.
The artwork and pictures are beautiful and add so much to this story. Amazing to have so many images of rangatira. Their names should be known by all. For too long the Pakeha names of Hillary, Rutherford, Shepherd have dominated our culture, what of Rewi Maniapoto, Wiremu Tamihana, Titokowaru, Te Whiti o Rongomai, Tohu Kākahi and many others.
Very thankful to those who made this book possible. Great book for understanding what is such a vital part of New Zealands history. It cannot be ignored any longer.
Sadly, these stories have been largely championed for all the wrong reasons and then ignored as O'Malley points out. Thankfully the tide is turning. As a 29 year old primary teacher I'm thankful to learn these stories now and not in my old age. I'm gutted and embarrassed that it's taken this long to read them. I hope to put them to good use for the rangitahi of today.
The artwork and pictures are beautiful and add so much to this story. Amazing to have so many images of rangatira. Their names should be known by all. For too long the Pakeha names of Hillary, Rutherford, Shepherd have dominated our culture, what of Rewi Maniapoto, Wiremu Tamihana, Titokowaru, Te Whiti o Rongomai, Tohu Kākahi and many others.
Very thankful to those who made this book possible. Great book for understanding what is such a vital part of New Zealands history. It cannot be ignored any longer.
January 29, 2020
A book every New Zealander should read. Clear, concise and deeply sad, O’Malley’s overview of the NZ wars enables us honestly confront our own past and take ownership of our history. This must be taught in schools! Five stars
September 11, 2022
TLDR; One those books you buy because the pictures look cool and then after 3 years you actually sit down to read it and it's an icon in its field.
O'Malley is best known for his encyclopedia-sized "The Great War for New Zealand" which was significant simply due to its sheer detail - showing that the Waikato War was not a meer skirmish but a conflict that determined the trajectory of New Zealand's history for the 200 years. However its size meant it wasn't particularly accessible to the general public.
In comparison, the snack-bite, battle by battle narrative of Nga Pakanga is probably the most accessible book that exists on the New Zealand Wars. And O'Malley provides this without sacrificing on context, detail or on the gorgeous archival photographs and paintings that bring these darkest days of NZ history to life.
O'Malley is best known for his encyclopedia-sized "The Great War for New Zealand" which was significant simply due to its sheer detail - showing that the Waikato War was not a meer skirmish but a conflict that determined the trajectory of New Zealand's history for the 200 years. However its size meant it wasn't particularly accessible to the general public.
In comparison, the snack-bite, battle by battle narrative of Nga Pakanga is probably the most accessible book that exists on the New Zealand Wars. And O'Malley provides this without sacrificing on context, detail or on the gorgeous archival photographs and paintings that bring these darkest days of NZ history to life.
November 5, 2020
Fitting that I finished this book on the 139th anniversary of Parihaka.
Such a good book, and the book I had been looking for such a long time. I’ve been interested in this period of NZ history for a while, and found it hard to find a simple overview. This book is just that. It is once over lightly - Parihaka gets 1 page. But that is great, because it stitches everything together at a high level, and helps to explain the context for so much that was happening then.
I finally have a grasp on tino rangitiritanga, I’m starting to learn the names of the main players - but there is a lot more to learn. I also now see that these wars were not just about Te Tiriti, and not just about land. It was complicated, not least by the fact that Maori often fought along side the crown.
He Implies that the British were not completely behind what the NZ govt were doing, its interesting to imagine how things could have been different if the British had enforced this more strongly, if it’s true. Regardless, the colonial government comes across very badly. There was outright betrayal on multiple occasions. A vicious war, by both sides.
I wish this had been taught at school when I was a kid. It’s absurd how much I know about ww1 and 2, and how little I know about our own history.
Such a good book, and the book I had been looking for such a long time. I’ve been interested in this period of NZ history for a while, and found it hard to find a simple overview. This book is just that. It is once over lightly - Parihaka gets 1 page. But that is great, because it stitches everything together at a high level, and helps to explain the context for so much that was happening then.
I finally have a grasp on tino rangitiritanga, I’m starting to learn the names of the main players - but there is a lot more to learn. I also now see that these wars were not just about Te Tiriti, and not just about land. It was complicated, not least by the fact that Maori often fought along side the crown.
He Implies that the British were not completely behind what the NZ govt were doing, its interesting to imagine how things could have been different if the British had enforced this more strongly, if it’s true. Regardless, the colonial government comes across very badly. There was outright betrayal on multiple occasions. A vicious war, by both sides.
I wish this had been taught at school when I was a kid. It’s absurd how much I know about ww1 and 2, and how little I know about our own history.
September 17, 2019
One of the saddest books I have read. Very well done with lots of coloured pictures of events I've only ever seen in black & white, along with maps for each main area. Easy to read without a judgemental attitude.
February 7, 2020
Hands down EVERY New Zealander need to read this. To understand NZ today, you need to understand the NZ of yesterday.
August 11, 2023
A very interesting topic, that I knew very little about - the wars between Maori and European settlers and the British army in the mid 19th century.
The book contains a lot of information, a lot of events, and I did learn a lot. But it was hard to grasp the relations of all the events to each other, to find an overall narrative. I didn't think it worked that well as a first introduction to the topic - it seems to assume quite a bit of previous knowledge. I suppose the book is written for a New Zealand market, and people there will obviously know more about the basic history of the country - although the book also makes the point that these wars are little known in the country today.
The writing is at times quite dense, with loads of Maori terms that were much used, but not explained. Fortunately, the Kindle dictionary function helped a bit, but still I have no idea what the difference between an iwi and a hapu is - to take one example. I suppose some Maori terms might be hard to translate, but that would make it even more important to provide a good explanation, so the reader knows what the author means by the word. At times, the use of Maori words seems over the top, simply exoticizing the subjects - like the use of a Maori word that (apparently) just means "woman" - instead of writing "woman". Why? At times exasperating.
The book contains a lot of information, a lot of events, and I did learn a lot. But it was hard to grasp the relations of all the events to each other, to find an overall narrative. I didn't think it worked that well as a first introduction to the topic - it seems to assume quite a bit of previous knowledge. I suppose the book is written for a New Zealand market, and people there will obviously know more about the basic history of the country - although the book also makes the point that these wars are little known in the country today.
The writing is at times quite dense, with loads of Maori terms that were much used, but not explained. Fortunately, the Kindle dictionary function helped a bit, but still I have no idea what the difference between an iwi and a hapu is - to take one example. I suppose some Maori terms might be hard to translate, but that would make it even more important to provide a good explanation, so the reader knows what the author means by the word. At times, the use of Maori words seems over the top, simply exoticizing the subjects - like the use of a Maori word that (apparently) just means "woman" - instead of writing "woman". Why? At times exasperating.
April 24, 2023
A great introduction to The New Zealand Wars
July 26, 2019
I confess to being a little disappointed by O’Malley’s latest work. It’s an accomplished piece of historiography to be sure, but feels perhaps too much like a high-school set text.
Names, dates and events are rattled through, and we move through some of the most traumatic events in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history at lightning pace, but there’s no real attention given to a critical reading.
It’s clear from the language used that O’Malley is sympathetic to the plight of the Māori warriors and families, and uses very different language to refer to their actions when compared with the colonial forces, but explanations for why events played out as they did are not really offered.
It’s a very necessary piece of work and would suit a reader looking for a quick summary of the main conflagrations, but I wanted a bit more context I think.
Names, dates and events are rattled through, and we move through some of the most traumatic events in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history at lightning pace, but there’s no real attention given to a critical reading.
It’s clear from the language used that O’Malley is sympathetic to the plight of the Māori warriors and families, and uses very different language to refer to their actions when compared with the colonial forces, but explanations for why events played out as they did are not really offered.
It’s a very necessary piece of work and would suit a reader looking for a quick summary of the main conflagrations, but I wanted a bit more context I think.
October 26, 2020
Overall this is an informative read, and most timely considering the current mood for more understanding of these NZ events.
As other reviews mention this certainly gives a decent and snappy overview, which is great news. Some historical publications can get bogged down with too much detail that is either a) boring and detracting or b) not essential for the history being covered.
In saying this I did hope for something more in the content. Granted you definitely get a summary of the wars, but I found it a touch repetitive without the historical insights that might have raised it up. A little more concentration on the current commemorations and how it should/could be remembered for example.
As other reviews mention this certainly gives a decent and snappy overview, which is great news. Some historical publications can get bogged down with too much detail that is either a) boring and detracting or b) not essential for the history being covered.
In saying this I did hope for something more in the content. Granted you definitely get a summary of the wars, but I found it a touch repetitive without the historical insights that might have raised it up. A little more concentration on the current commemorations and how it should/could be remembered for example.
January 22, 2020
A thoroughly concise and engaging overview of the New Zealand Wars, chronicling everything from the attack on Kororareka through to the Waikato invasion, the pursuit of Te Kooti and invasion of Parihaka and the ramifications that all events from the 1843-1881 time period entail. This book is a must read for every New Zealander (especially Pākeha), in order reckon with Maori grievances of invasion and dispossession and forge a genuinely bicultural future, adherent to the words of the Te Titiriti o Waitangi.
February 6, 2020
A clear eyed and concise account of the wars and their aftermath. I believe everyone should read this book. It’s not lost on me that I finished it on Waitangi Day. If we are going to talk about the Treaty of Waitangi, in the same breath we must talk about the New Zealand wars. “The war tipped the scales. In the battle between two competing ideas of what the Treaty of Waitangi stood for, it was the Crown’s version that won. This envisaged a treaty of cession and unbridled sovereignty, not mutual partnership and dialogue”.
January 2, 2020
Always good to read something about the New Zealand wars and learn more about the conflicts in New Zealand during the 1800s. Vincent O'Malley is an author I have been following since his book on the Waikato Wars and my research through my uni studies. I recommend reading especially if you want to learn more about the New Zealand past. The book could be read with Jock Phillips - To the Memory, as something in regards to how the locations are remembered in the 20th Century.
June 12, 2019
An accessible general survey of the New Zealand Wars. Well written and engaging with a particularly good final chapter assessing the ongoing significance of the conflict.
August 27, 2019
A sad indictment on our colonial beginnings and a strong case for teaching NZ history at primary and secondary school
December 2, 2019
This should be read by every single New Zealander, especially Pākehā.
May 30, 2025
An informative and striking account of the New Zealand land wars erupting in the 1800’s. While O'malley’s approach to the period is genuine and aspirationally objective, I felt like he overlooks wider aspects that further complicate the narrative. Complications, not to absolve historical wrongdoing, but complications that ought to diffuse modern inclinations to weaponize historical events as contemporary cannon fodder. To be fair, the book is not exhaustive and there is no such thing as objective historical retellings. That being said, the book often broad brushes sides (us & them) to European settlers and the Maori. When in actuality, there were several types of settlers and Maori each with different aims and allegiances that either worked well together or resulted in serious conflict (hence the land wars). You’ve also got the British imperial power reaching its nation building resources literally to the other side of the planet. Anacronstically, we condemn our colonial roots, and fair enough, we should learn from our mistakes - but that's what the empire was, a cut-throat, resolute and hardy people with divine claims and purpose. Of course they would stamp out any hint of rebellion or non-conformity. All in all, I think it's important for the people of New Zealand to be familiar with its history, to respect the blood in the soil, and to not so quickly take for granted the relative peace in our time.
June 27, 2024
The New Zealand Wars / Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa by Vincent O'Malley is a well-regarded book that explores a significant period in New Zealand's history. These wars, fought between the Crown and various Māori groups from 1845 to 1872, had lasting impacts on the nation's development. O'Malley's book is noted for its accessibility and is supplemented with full-color illustrations, timelines, graphs, and summary tables, making it a comprehensive introduction to the topic.
September 24, 2023
Essential reading for every New Zealander, Vincent O’Malley illustrated account of conflict between 1845 and 1872 is accessible and rewarding.
This is not a heavy tome but a succinct account replete with maps, early paintings and photographs. It’s focus is largely on the Maori participants and the causes and effects relating to the dispossession of land.
Given the demand for NZ history to be more widely understood, this is an ideal book which could be used as a starting point.
This is not a heavy tome but a succinct account replete with maps, early paintings and photographs. It’s focus is largely on the Maori participants and the causes and effects relating to the dispossession of land.
Given the demand for NZ history to be more widely understood, this is an ideal book which could be used as a starting point.
May 10, 2021
This book describes a pivotal time in my countries history. These wars have had lasting ramifications. Reading this book brings a lot of context and information for all New Zealanders.
January 6, 2025
This was such a great book to read to learn more about the history of Aotearoa NZ. I expect that I shall be reflecting on it for a long time.
November 9, 2019
A really good overview. Fast and doesn’t have huge depth, but a much more accessible contemporary intro to the topic than the incredibly thorough and weighty Great War for New Zealand.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews