Story: Kāwanatanga – Māori engagement with the state

Taranaki Rifles camp, around 1881 (2nd of 2)

Taranaki Rifles camp, around 1881

In November 1881 the government called up the Taranaki Rifles and other volunteer units from around the country, along with more than 1,000 members of the Armed Constabulary and every able-bodied male in Taranaki province to destroy the pacifist settlement of Parihaka. It was said to be, at the time of the invasion, the largest and most prosperous town in Māori history, and a powerful symbol of Māori kāwanatanga.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Parihaka Album
Reference: PA1-q-183-09
Photograph by W. A. Collis

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:

Paul Meredith and Rawinia Higgins, 'Kāwanatanga – Māori engagement with the state - Implementing kāwanatanga', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/37439/taranaki-rifles-camp-around-1881 (accessed 26 April 2024)

Story by Paul Meredith and Rawinia Higgins, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Aug 2016