New strategy of colonial government

Here we have the explanation for the caution of the colonial government in handling the Hauraki people. And the delicacy of the diplomatic situation did not abate. It extended to 1872 and beyond because of:

1.    the continued loyalty towards the Maori King of influential leaders like Te Hira who shared his resistance to continued land sales.

2.    the prolonged success of Te Kooti and Titokowaru. (Just after the escape of Te Kooti, Mr Justice Johnson said that the colony was 'more crippled . . . in its power, and more exposed' than it had even been.)117 According to Mackay, in October 1868, Te Kooti's escape, and Titokowaru's defeat of colonial troops on the West Coast, demoralized 'friendlies' and made Hauhaus more 'elated and exultant' than ever before.118

After 1865 the colonial government was to use two powerful economic weapons: improved communications (military roads and the telegraph), and the new Native Land Court. If adroitly used these devices would conquer without war, because time, the Crown believed, was on the Pakeha side. Repeating the argument of advisers with 'long experience of the Native character', Governor Bowen maintained, in 1868, that if no

further attempt were made to occupy lands in distant and isolated positions, or in the immediate neighbourhood of hostile tribes, this Colony would probably enjoy permanent peace and security. It will be remembered that the Native race is rapidly diminishing, while the Europeans are as rapidly increasing in numbers. In 1848, only twenty years ago, the Maoris in the North Island exceeded 100,000; while now, in 1868, they are under 40,000. Consequently, the Maori difficulty is a question of time — probably of the next ten years. During that period, every effort should be made to push roads into the interior. Experience has amply shown that the best weapons for the conquest of the Highlands of New Zealand in the 19th, as of the Highlands of Scotland in the 18th century, are the spade and pickaxe . . . . It is politic and more humane to outlive the King movement than to endeavour to suppress it by the strong hand.119

'Permanent pacification of the country, and the dominion of law', in Judge Maning's opinion, would inevitably follow, once the 1865 Native Land Court had been in operation for a few years. The Court would 'stimulate industry, detach them [Maori owners with individual titles] from tribal or national interests . . . and put them in the position of having much to lose and nothing to gain from war . . . . "The Native Land Act, 1865", will prove the most beneficial action we have ever attempted in Native affairs.'120

117 AJHR, 1870, Al, p. 1.

118 AJHR, 1868, A18; James Mackay to J.C. Richmond, 9 Oct. 1868.

119 AJHR, 1870, Al, p. 7.

46