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Story: Kāwanatanga – Māori engagement with the state

Armed police, Urewera, April 1916

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Te taua pirihimana, ki Te Urewera, i te Paengawhāwhā i te tau 1916

A party of 70 police from throughout New Zealand assembles at Ruatāhuna in the Urewera for an issue of revolvers, rifles and ammunition. This force, led by Police Commissioner John Cullen (standing far left), is about to march to Maungapōhatu, the religious community led by Rua Kēnana. During the leader's arrest on charges of illegally selling alcohol, two of his followers were killed and several others wounded. Four police officers were also wounded.

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Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: 7-A3319a

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero 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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/37440/armed-police-urewera-april-1916 (accessed 27 June 2026).

Story by Paul Meredith and Rawinia Higgins, published 12 June 2012, updated 1 August 2016.