The Tauranga Campaign, 1864

Today, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's most popular holiday destinations. Due to its sheltered position along the western Bay of Plenty, it enjoys a warm, dry climate and offers some of New Zealand's finest beaches. The name Tauranga means "sheltered waters" in Maori, and the harbour is still a regular stop-off for container ships and luxury cruise liners.

The Tauranga Campaign started on January 21st, 1864 as something of a sideshow to the Invasion of the Waikato, where British Imperial Troops were assisting the New Zealand Colonial Government in fighting a confederation of Maori tribes known as the King Movement, or Kingites. The Kingites were receiving support from many of the tribes in North Island, and the expedition to Tauranga, some 100km east of the main conflict, was an effort to curb this flow of support.

The 68th (Durham) Light Infantry ("The Faithful Durhams"), led by Lt.Col. H.H.Greer, arrived to establish a base at the harbour, intending to adopt a defensive posture. However, the local Maori responded with threats, insults and abuse, followed by increasing provocation and raids on the British camp. Finally, they built a "Pa", a fortress or defensive position, only 5km from the British camp.

Colonel Greer could not afford to ignore this, as it restricted his freedom of movement and limited control of Tauranga Harbour. He applied to Aukland for reinforcements, so that he may go on the offensive. His request arrived just as the Waikato conflict ended. Its commander, General Sir Duncan Cameron, was being heavily criticised by both the press and the Colonial government, which saw the Waikato campaign as a failure. It would seem that he saw in Tauranga a chance to achieve a decisive victory against the King Movement, and he immediately sailed for the Bay of Plenty with his entire reserve force.

The campaign lasted until June, so I will hopefully be coming back to this little-known period of Colonial history. The legacy of the Maori Wars continues to this day, with the battles now taking place in courtrooms and around negotiation tables. Under the Treaty of Waitangi, more than four million acres of land was confiscated from Maori tribes, both rebel and loyal alike, and the confiscations have had a lasting effect on the social and economic development of the affected tribes.