Full Timeline

The timeline below is a brief accounting of New Zealand Wars period. If you are interested in more specific timeline details, click on the individual campaign tabs above. To see a map of these fields of engagement, click here – # Map of Conflicts.

1  Wairau ‘Massacre’  

17 June 1843     Wairau confrontation : see –  Timeline / Wairau

2  The Northern War  

Moutoa Gardens Monument, Whanganui

11 March 1845  Hone Heke Pokai attacks Kororareka

8 May 1845        British Army attacks Puketutu

30 June – 1st July 1845   British repulsed at Ohaeawai

11 January 1846    Ruapekapeka Pa falls : see – Timeline / Northern War

3  Wellington – Whanganui 

16 May 1846  Ngāti Toa attack Boulcott’s Farm : see – Timeline / Wellington

19 May 1847     Whanganui raided by up-river Māori

19 July 1847     Māori attack St John’s Wood : see – Timeline / Whanganui

4  North Taranaki   

17 March 1860     British fire on Te Kohia Pā

28 March 1860   Māori defend Waireka Pā 

27 June 1860     British under fire at Puketekauere

Memorial Steps commemorating the dead of the NZ Wars, Whanganui. Rutland Stockade site in the distance.

6 November 1860    Māori shelled by British at Mahoetahi

23 January 1861   Te Ātiawa midnight attack on No 3 Redoubt

17 March 1861    Truce signed at Te Arei Pā : see – Timeline / North Taranaki.

5  The Waikato Invasion   

12 – 17 July 1863     British cross Managatawhiri Stream and skirmish at Koheroa 

22 July – 14 September 1863   Skirmishes at Kirikiri, Pokeno, and Pukekohe East

30 October 1863      Meremere Pā is shelled

20 November 1863      The British Army attacks Rangiriri

8 December 1863     Troops enter Ngāruawāhia

21 February 1864      Surprise British attack on Rangiaowhia

31 March – 2 April 1864    Battle of Orakau : see – Timeline / Waikato War.

6  Tauranga War  

29 April 1864     Battle of Gate Pā 

21 June 1864     Battle of Te Ranga : see – Timeline / Tauranga

7  Central and Southern Taranaki 

Ngatapa today, site of Te Kooti's seige.

6 April 1864   British attacked at Te Ahu Ahu

30 April 1864    Māori attack Sentry Hill

14 May 1864   Battle of Moutoa Island amongst Māori    

24-25 January 1865   Māori attack  Nukumaru

14 January – 2 October 1866  Skirmishing in central Taranaki

12 July 1868   Titokowaru’ attacks Turuturu Mokai Redoubt

7 September 1868   Ill-fated attack on Te Ngutu O Te Manu 

7 November 1868   Constabulary repulsed at Moturoa 

2 February 1869   Māori slip away from Tauranga Ika : see – Timeline / Central-South Taranaki.

8  East Coast Wars  

10 June 1865   Skirmish against Hau Hau at Mangaone

8 September – 4 October  1866  Hau Hau conflicts throughout Hawkes Bay

1 February – 1 September April 1867   Skirmishing in Waioeka Gorge, Tauranga and Opotiki. 

20 July – 8 August 1868  Surprise attack at Paparatu

9 November 1868   Te Kooti attacks Matawhero

Rangiriri battle site, Hamilton - arrow shows direction of approach of British Army

1 January – 5 January 1869   Siege of Ngatapa

1 March – 12 April 1869  Fighting at Ohiwa, Te Poronu, Rauporoa and Mohaka

6 May – 14 May 1869   Te Kooti pursued through Urewera’s 

7 June 1869   Constabulary ambushed at Opepe

3 October 1869   Battle of Te Porere – ‘Te Kooti’s Last Stand’

14 February 1872  The final encounter fought at Mangaone : see – Timeline / East Coast Wars