NZ PART 2 SERVICE IN NEW ZEALAND 1860 - 1867 “Come forth this way, towards me, to this place where I now stand.” (introduction to the Haka) Apart from material that has been specifically referenced, for example details of individual soldiers or from newspapers or from the PRO records, I have used material from two primary sources – Colonel Alexander’s book “Incidents of the Moari War 1860-1861”; and Lieutenant Colonel Webb’s book “History of the 12th Regiment”. Note that the Maori wars, sometimes referred to as the New Zealand wars, are now referred to as the New Zealand Land wars. New Zealand and its Provinces In 1788 the colony of New South Wales was founded. According to Captain Phillip's amended Commission, dated 25th April 1787, the colony included all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean within the latitudes of 10°37'S and 43°39'S which included most of New Zealand except for the southern half of the South Island. In 1825 with Van Diemen's Land becoming a separate Colony of Australia, the southern boundary of New South Wales was altered to the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean with a southern boundary of 39°12'S which included only the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand. However, these boundaries had no real impact as the New South Wales administration had little interest in New Zealand. In response to complaints about lawless white sailors and adventurers in New Zealand, the British government appointed James Busby as Official Resident in 1832. In 1834 he encouraged Māori chiefs to assert their sovereignty with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1835. This was 299 NZ acknowledged by King William IV. Busby was provided with neither legal authority nor military support and was thus ineffective in controlling the European population. In 1839, the New Zealand Company announced its plans to establish colonies in New Zealand. This, and the continuing lawlessness of many of the established settlers, spurred the British to take stronger action. Captain William Hobson was sent to New Zealand to persuade Māori to cede their sovereignty to the British Crown. In reaction to the New Zealand Company's moves, on 15th June 1839 a new Letters patent was issued to expand the territory of New South Wales to include all of New Zealand. Governor of New South Wales George Gipps was appointed Governor over New Zealand. This was the first clear expression of British intent to annex New Zealand. Treaty of Waitangi – 1840 On 6th February 1840, Hobson and about forty Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. Copies of the Treaty were subsequently taken around the country to be signed by other chiefs. A significant number refused to sign or were not asked but, in total, more than five hundred Māori eventually signed. The Treaty gave Māori sovereignty over their lands and possessions and all of the rights of British citizens. What it gave the British in return depends on the language-version of the Treaty that is referred to. The English version can be said to give the British Crown sovereignty over New Zealand but in the Māori version the Crown receives kawanatanga, which, arguably, is a lesser power (see Treaty of Waitangi#Meaning and interpretation). Dispute over the true meaning and the intent of either party remains an issue. Britain was motivated by the desire to forestall other European powers (France established a very small settlement at Akaroa in the South Island later in 1840), to facilitate settlement by British subjects and, possibly, to end the lawlessness of European (predominantly British and American) whalers, sealers and traders. Officials and missionaries had their own positions and reputations to protect. Māori chiefs were motivated by a desire for protection from foreign powers, the establishment of governorship over European settlers and traders in New Zealand, and to allow for wider settlement that would increase trade and prosperity for Māori. Hobson died in September 1842. Robert FitzRoy, the new governor, took some legal steps to recognise Māori custom. However, his successor, George Grey (former Governor of South Australia), promoted rapid cultural assimilation and reduction of the land ownership, influence and rights of the Māori. The practical effect of the Treaty was, in the beginning, only gradually felt, especially in predominantly Māori regions. Independence from New South Wales - 1841 Having been administered, through 1840 when the treaty was signed, as a part of the Australian colony of New South Wales, New Zealand became a colony in its own right on 3rd May 1841. It was divided into provinces that were reorganised in 1846 and in 1853, when they acquired their own legislatures, and then abolished in 1876. The country rapidly gained some measure of self- government through the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, which established central and provincial government. 300 NZ From 1840 there was considerable European settlement, primarily from England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland; and to a lesser extent the United States, India, and various parts of continental Europe, including the province of Dalmatia in what is now Croatia, and Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic. Already a majority of the population by 1859, the number of white settlers (called Pākehā by Māori) increased rapidly to reach a million by 1911. The Provinces When New Zealand became a separate Colony from New South Wales in 1841, the Royal Charter established three provinces: • New Ulster (North Island north of Patea River); • New Munster (North Island south of Patea River, plus the South Island); and • New Leinster (Stewart Island/Rakiura). In 1846 the British Parliament passed the first New Zealand Constitution Act, which was almost totally suspended on the advice of Governor George Grey. The only operative provisions related to the reform of the provinces. The reformed provinces were: • New Ulster (All of North Island); and • New Munster (The South Island plus Stewart Island/Rakiura). In addition, the provinces were separated from the central government for the first time. New provinces were formed by the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 (UK). This Act established the first six provinces of Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago. Each province elected its own legislature known as a Provincial Council, and elected a Superintendent who was not a member of the council. The councils elected their speaker at their first meeting after elections. The Act also created a national General Assembly consisting of the Legislative Council appointed by the Governor and the directly-elected House of Representatives. These provinces came into effect on 17th January 1853 and the regulations defining the boundaries of the provinces were gazetted on 28th February. Electoral regulations were gazetted on 5th March. Elections were open to males 21 years or older who owned freehold property worth £50 a year. Elections were to be held every four years. The New Zealand Constitution Amendment Act 1857 provided for the appointment of a Deputy Superintendent. The Constitution Act provided for the creation of additional provinces, and when the spread of European settlements between the original centres of provincial government and the outlying settlers grew, the General Assembly passed the New Provinces Act 1858. This Act allowed any district of between 500,000 and 3 million acres of land with a European population of no fewer than 1,000 people to petition for separation provided that at least 60% of electors agreed. As a result, Hawke's Bay Province separated from Wellington on 1st November 1858; Marlborough Province from Nelson on 1 November 1859; and Southland Province from Otago on 1st April 1861. New Plymouth also changed its name to Taranaki under the same Act. Provinces established under this act elected their Superintendents in a different way. Members of the Provincial Council would elect a suitable person listed on the electoral roll as Superintendent by 301 NZ majority. If such a person was an elected member, this would result in a by-election to fill the vacancy. Province Formed date Formed from Dissolution date Auckland 17 January 1853 New Ulster 1 November 1876 New Plymouth (Taranaki) 17 January 1853 New Ulster 1 November 1876 Hawke's Bay 1 November 1858 Wellington 1 November 1876 Wellington 17 January 1853 New Ulster 1 November 1876 Nelson 17 January 1853 New Munster 1 November 1876 Marlborough 1 November 1859 Nelson 1 November 1876 Westland 1 December 1873 Canterbury 1 November 1876 Canterbury 17 January 1853 New Munster 1 November 1876 Otago 17 January 1853 New Munster 1 November 1876 Southland 25 March 1861 Otago 5 October 1870 Almost as soon as they were founded, New Zealand's Provinces were the subject of protracted political debate. The provinces were finally abolished by the Abolition of Provinces Act 1876, during the Premiership of Harry Atkinson. For the purposes of the Act, the provinces formally ceased to exist on 1 January 1877. Following the abolition of the Provinces, local government was vested in elected borough and county councils. The Counties Bill of 1876 created 63 counties out of the old provinces. The former boundaries of the provinces served as administrative areas for the education boards set up under the Education Act of 1877 and for the offices of several Government Departments, including the Department of Lands and Survey. In 1989 the Counties were replaced by enlarged District Councils. 302 NZ Figure 10: Locations of major engagements in New Zealand. 303 1860 - NZ 1860 "So determined was the attack…" Stations Queens Redoubt (a fortification near Pokeno, south of Auckland), and Bell Block and Taranaki (now called New Plymouth). All located in the north island of New Zealand.