Story: Hawke’s Bay region

Ōmarunui, 1866 (1st of 2)

Ōmarunui, 1866

Hawke’s Bay saw less conflict in the 1860s than other places in New Zealand, but was not combat-free. The arrival of members of the Pai Mārire (Hauhau) faith in the region in 1865 was seen as a challenge to government authority and a threat to European settlements. In 1866 there was a battle at Ōmarunui on the Tūtaekurī River between the visiting Pai Marire group and their local supporters on one side, and kūpapa (neutral or ‘loyal’) Māori and government forces on the other. The government side won the battle. The Pai Mārire adherents were branded as rebels, and Māori land was later confiscated.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: B-079-005
Pen and watercolour by Thomas Samuel Kemp

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Hawke’s Bay region - European settlement', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/23897/omarunui-1866 (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, updated 1 Jul 2015