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Story: Musket wars

Te Rauparaha

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Te Rauparaha

In this 1840s image of Ngāti Toa leader Te Rauparaha, he wears a feather in his hair and a pōhoi (feather-ball earring). Te Rauparaha is famous for the role he played during the musket wars. His brilliance as a general was in bringing together a collective of iwi to fight as allies against common enemies.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: A-114-047

by R. Hall

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

Basil Keane, Musket wars – Ngāti Toa and allies, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/38089/te-rauparaha (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 23 May 2012.