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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

The Wanganui-Taranaki Campaign

The Wanganui-Taranaki Campaign.

While the Waikato campaign was in progress nothing of any importance was attempted in Taranaki. At last, however, the Government decided that it was necessary to subdue and punish the natives who were actively rebellious in the Wanganui and Taranaki districts. General Cameron then had a combined Imperial and Colonial force of 6,000 soldiers, in addition to nearly 1,000 friendly native allies and the local militia. This number did not include about 5000 other troops, then stationed in other parts of the colony. The rebel natives numbered altogether about 1500, of whom, possibly, 700 were fighting men. Before operations were ready the Maoris challenged our troops to fight. On the 24th of January, 1865, a skirmish occurred, when Lieutenant Johnstone and three others were killed, and seven were wounded. On the next day a force of 600 rebels (according to General Cameron—400 according to the Governor) attacked the General's camp. Eventually the natives were driven back, leaving eleven bodies on the field, while our loss was eleven killed and nineteen wounded. This was the only occasion in which the General's forces became engaged with any large number of the natives during this campaign.

The Maoris then deserted their villages and took to the native bush, where General Cameron deemed it not prudent to follow them. The Imperial forces were moved along close to the shore, and military posts were established. In February, when General Cameron advanced up the coast, he passed a fortified pa named Wereroa, on his right, which was occupied by about 300 rebels, and in his report to the Governor he said: “I consider my force insufficient to attack so formidable a work as the Wereroa pa.” The Governor proposed to allow the friendly natives to do it, but the General replied that they would be unable to do so. Much correspondence ensued on the subject, and in the end of April General Cameron departed to Auckland.

Sir George Grey then determined to attack the pa himself. He raised a “scratch” force of 309 friendly natives, 139 Forest Rangers and twenty-five Wanganui Cavalry, and persuaded Brigadier-General Waddy, who had been left in command on the coast, to lend him 200 Imperial troops, not for active operations, but for parade purposes near the pa, while the Colonial forces attacked it. The Colonial force, under Majors Rookes and McDonnell, was despatched over precipitous country to capture a smaller redoubt at the rear of Wereroa. This they gallantly accomplished without the loss of a single man, while they took fifty Maoris prisoners. As the pa at Wereroa was now untenable the rebels evacuated it, and next morning Sir George Grey's forces entered the pa.

The native allies, about 400 strong, built three redoubts up the Wanganui river, and prevented the descent of a large force under Pehi, a rebel chief of high rank. The rebels tried to outflank the friendly natives, who fought gallantly, and drove the rebels from pa to pa. Five of the friendly natives were killed and fifteen of the rebels before the latter surrendered. Pehi, the rebel chief, who had great influence over his tribe, was taken prisoner and sent to Wanganui. He was, however, released by Sir George Grey, on oath of allegiance. This oath was soon broken, and rallying his tribe around him, Pehi plunged into the war again. Governor Grey then sent a force of natives and military settlers to Pipiriki, and occupied that place. Pehi and his force attacked Captain Brassey at Pipiriki, but were repulsed with heavy loss after a short engagement. Our prestige was now being restored, chiefly through Governor Grey's military skill and success, and he issued a proclamation declaring that peace was restored. However, when the messenger conveyed this proclamation to the rebels he was barbarously murdered, and the proclamation was torn to pieces.