In 1840, the estate of Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi spanned 520,000 acres- land, rivers, seabeds. From the Paatea river, to Te Kaihau a-Kupe, and north to Matemateaaonga.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi amassed support from over 500 signatories across the country but Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi was not among them.

Copies of Te Tiriti were dispersed throughout the North and South Islands, however, no copy made it further north of Whanganui nor south of Kaawhia. But whether or not Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi had signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi was irrelevant. The British Colonial Office ruled that all Maaori were British subjects, and were therefore subject to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

In 1841, William Spain was appointed the New Zealand Land Claims Commissioner. He was tasked with investigating the New Zealand Company’s land purchases. The Company claimed it had purchased some 20 million acres since 1839, including a 40,000 acre block of land between the Kai Iwi and the Whangaehu Rivers, known as the Whanganui Block.

The Deed of Purchase for the Whanganui Block recorded a receipt of goods in exchange for extremely valuable land.

Settlers were arriving in their droves to occupy the new lands, despite many of those purchases were being contested by Maaori.

The majority of the Company's claims, especially those at Nelson, Wellington and Whanganui, did not appear legitimate. However, Spain did not declare the land sales invalid. He awarded £1,000 as further compensation to all iwi that were involved with the purchase.

Within five years, the 40,000 acre block had more than doubled. By the time the Crown completed the purchase in 1848, the New Zealand Company had acquired 89,000 acres at Whanganui- more than twice the amount granted by Spain. [He Whiritaunoka (2015).]

20,000 acres of that purchase sat within the boundaries of Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi.

Pootonga Neilson, kaumaatua, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi:

‘It was not in their psyche to actually sell land, so what they actually sold to the Paakehaa was the right to dwell within that block, Whanganui Block, as long as they remained peaceful and respectful to the local people, that was fine. But they weren’t able to do that.

When it came to the Kai Iwi Block, they put the price up but you’ve got to remember, every one of those transactions was hotly disputed by one section, supported by another section, and others who didn’t know.

So at Kai Iwi they had a visit from Makarini, Donald McLean, the Crown land agent.’

Donald McLean became the Chief Land Purchase Commissioner in 1853, in a period when Maaori were strongly opposed to selling land.

Pootonga Neilson, kaumaatua, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi:

‘There were people at Kai Iwi who were keen to sell and get some money. There were people at Kai Iwi who resisted the sale.

Makarini was informed that the Paakehaa must cease drawing imaginary lines on the land which divide up the people, and the land is not for sale, but there was always a group, and just like the Waitangi Tribunal process, the whole process became very divisive amongst our people.’

Soon, he began to pay hapuu leaders, with the hope they would persuade other land rights holders to sell their interests too. McLean also promised the leaders individual Crown grants if the purchases were completed. McLean’s actions provoked mounting tension.

Increasing tensions over the sale of Maaori land led to a conference in 1854 between Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi, Ngaati Ruanui and other Taranaki iwi at Manawapou, north of Paatea.

At least 1,000 people gathered at the meeting. The purpose was to discuss tribal boundaries and to encourage hapuu to cease selling land to Europeans.

Pootonga Neilson, kaumaatua, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi:

‘They made an agreement to that effect. And the big meeting house they built especially for this gathering was called Te Taiporoheenui. They also had a toki (adze). That toki was the symbol of the agreement of the anti-land league which did exist. There would be no more land sales within Taranaki.’

But in 1858, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi withdrew from the Manawapou agreement.

Reverend Richard Taylor resided at Puutiki, Whanganui. He was well respected by Maaori throughout the region. He became the peacemaker between Maaori factions, as well as Maaori and settlers. He also acted as a spokesperson for dealings with the Government.

According to Taylor, some Ngaati Ruanui who had 'a kind of a claim' to Waitootara said they would give it to the Maaori King. Taylor wrote to inform McLean:

‘This so offended the real owners that although previously they had no intention of selling it, they exclaimed, “who are you who presume to dictate to us what we shall do with our lands?”’

Aaperahama Tama-i-parea was one of seven rangatira of Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi who despised the selling of land to the settlers. But when Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi met with the representatives of the Maaori King, they were so incensed at being told what to do with their land that Aaperahama and his son, Pehimana, decided to sell the Waitootara Block to the Government.

McLean granted a £500 deposit for the Waitootara Block in May, 1859. The receipt recorded only 14 signatories.

Before the sale could be finalised, war broke out in north Taranaki in 1860. Unarmed Maaori, mostly women, tried to prevent the Crown’s attempts to survey the Pekapeka Block at Waitara. This was considered an act of rebellion. The Crown proclaimed martial law in February 1860 - the beginning of the first land wars in Taranaki. Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi and other Taranaki iwi rallied to support Te Aatiawa in the war against the Crown.

After 14 months, a peace agreement was reached. The Crown resumed negotiations regarding the Waitootara Block in 1862.

By this time, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi no longer wanted to sell the land but the Crown continued to negotiate with those who were part of the earlier agreement. Eventually, the sale of the Waitootara Block concluded in July 1863.

Four of the original 14 signatories from 1859 signed again in 1863, alongside an additional 28 signatories.

£2,000 changed hands. 26,638 acres were alienated from Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi through this purchase.

Aaperahama's name did not appear on the final deed of sale. He protested, “The land shall not be given up! Never! Never! Never!” He rejected the sale and joined other chiefs at Weraroa Paa on the Waitootara River.

Pootonga Neilson, kaumaatua, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi:

‘The Waitootara Block was the catalyst for the real war in South Taranaki. The Waitootara Block was eventually sold by some of our people and others resisted hence the arrival of the Pai Maarire, who became the Hauhau, who became the rebellious savages who needed to be eliminated.’

Under the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863, the Crown confiscated land from any Maaori who acted against the authority of the Queen of England. This single Act legalised the theft of Maaori land by the Crown.

In January 1865, General Cameron’s forces, 2,000 soldiers strong, advanced north-west from Whanganui to take possession of the Waitootara Block for the Crown.

Governor George Grey was determined to end the Pai Maarire threat in Whanganui and South Taranaki. His immediate concern was to take Weraroa Paa, and its stronghold of 2,000 Maaori. Several hundred Hauhau from the Whanganui to Waitara assembled, inspired by the presence of their prophet Te Ua Haumene. [Cowan (1956), p. 46]

Cameron refused to attack Weraroa. He was critical of what he saw as “colonial land-grabbing” and “the use of Imperial forces to achieve this””. ['Duncan Cameron' (NZHistory)]

This led to a breakdown in his relationship with Grey. Grey took it upon himself to lead the advance on Weraroa. He seized and occupied Weraroa in July.

Pootonga Neilson, kaumaatua, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi:

‘Now what happened to our people in that period was what the Government called the ‘bush scouring’ period, which was actually a ‘scorched earth’ policy. And it’s well documented that they went up all the rivers within Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi and Taranaki where the bulk of the population lived. And they destroyed everything, and looted everything. And our people were forced to live in isolation in the bush for years in some cases.

The really sad thing is what happened to our people during that bush scouring expedition. There were many of them. They went up the main rivers, more than once they went up there, and harassed and terrorised our people, most of whom had never even participated in the land wars.

And it was only when Keepa, Major Kemp, came to Waitootara and found 500 of our tuupuna living on Pootiki-aa-Rehua. And the Paakehaa living in Waitootara saying, ‘If you come back to Waitootara, you’ll be shot on sight’. And they sent a letter to the ones living at Tawhitinui on the Whanganui River, ‘do not come back to Waitootara, you’ll be shot on sight’. Major Kemp had to come as one of the people responsible for the removal of our people from their whenua and he had to talk on their behalf and work on their behalf so that they could come down from their refuge on top of Pootiki-aa-Rehua.’

Many, displaced from their lands since 1865, pledged loyalty to the Crown so they could return to their homes.

Pootonga Neilson, kaumaatua, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi:

‘Behind me here on this wall is a picture of all the able-bodied men in 1865, arrested to discourage rebellion. In their mind, they hadn't seen the treaty, they hadn’t signed the treaty so rebellion must be a false charge. All the able bodied men in that picture from Waitootara here, were arrested up on Weraroa, the fortified paa on top of the hill before you come down to the Waitootara, and they were taken down south. They were kept as prisoners on a prison hulk in the Wellington Harbour, and then taken down to Dunedin. They were looked down on as rebels and savages and charged with that crime.

For me, instead of being branded rebels and savages, they should be given as much recognition as we give the veterans of World War I and World War II. They were patriotic people.’

The campaign against the Hauhau continued until the end of 1867.

Meanwhile, a storm was brewing in South Taranaki.

In June 1868, the confiscation of large amounts of land for European settlement led Tiitokowaru to wage war against the Crown and settlers. Fighting ensued at Maawhitiwhiti, Turuturumookai, Te Ngutu o te Manu, Moturoa, and Nukumaru.

Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi villages and cultivations up the Waitootara River were devastated in retaliatory raids against Tiitokowaru by government troops. The Crown pushed Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi further and further out of South Taranaki, and pursued them into the interior.

Pootonga Neilson, kaumaatua, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi:

‘You hear a lot about the Waitara end but there is not that much printed or written about the wars here. We know very little about it. We know very little about the hundreds of our people who were driven off into the bush and had to survive, and had all their resources burnt or stolen. So, we really don’t know what they went through and we don’t know how many died in that process. They were harassed by what I would call today, a terrorist government.

It all became a terrible - it was a holocaust. It was a damn holocaust that our people went through. What happened to the women and children who were driven off their papakaainga? And their crops burned and everything and they had to live in the bush for years? We don’t know. How many of them died there? This is our history.’

On 27 November 1868, a colonial militia led by Lieutenant Bryce and Sergeant Maxwell, encountered a group of unarmed Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi and other Taranaki iwi children at Handley’s Woolshed, near Tauranga Ika marae at Nukumaru. The children were from the Tauranga-Ika Paa, the eldest of whom was about 10 years old.

Mike Neho, kaumaatua, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi:

‘A group of soldiers went inland to chase Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi. Upon their return to Whanganui, they saw some children moving about. They went to see what that movement was. The thought occurred to them to go and bother the children so they went- no it wasn’t to bother them but to scare them. So that’s what happened. Some drew their swords and cut the hand of one of the children. That was the circumstance of one of the wounded. They returned to Whanganui. Eventually, the name ‘Maxwell’ was bestowed upon that place. Now, this Maxwell, he was the person that assaulted our children.’

In an unprovoked attack the militia fired on the group, pursued them on horseback, and attacked them with sabres. The children were wounded. Two were assaulted and killed.

In February, 1869, Tauranga Ika was abandoned by Tiitokowaru.

Until 1873, Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi were forbidden to return to their home.

By the time they could come home there was barely anything to come home to.

They were deemed rebels.

The land was gone.