the evidence of Ron Crosby, author of a recent book on the subject.¹⁴ Crosby gave evidence on behalf of Ngai Te Rangi, but the basic facts that he detailed are consistent with the evidence given by other claimant groups.

In the first two decades of the nineteenth century, Nga Puhi of the Bay of Islands, Hokianga, and other parts of Tai Tokerau acquired muskets, which they used to dramatic and deadly effect in raids on other parts of the country. Two Nga Puhi raids on Tauranga in 1818 and 1820 caused the death or enslavement of many Maori, but they were followed by a peace agreement between Tauranga Maori and Nga Puhi which was to last until 1830.¹⁵ The Nga Puhi monopoly on firearms did not last for long. By the late 1820s, Ngati Maru of Hauraki were armed with muskets, and in 1828 they launched an attack on Tauranga and destroyed Otamataha Pa at Te Papa. Almost the entire population of the pa was either killed or enslaved, and missionaries who visited shortly after the battle encountered an appalling scene of devastation.¹⁶

Two years later, Tauranga Maori had an opportunity to take revenge on Ngati Maru when Te Waharoa of Ngati Haua sought their assistance. Te Waharoa wanted to expel Ngati Maru from the Maungatautari area, which they had recently occupied, and Tauranga Maori provided a substantial force to aid him. The two sides clashed at Taumatawiwi in 1830, and although losses were great on both sides, Ngati Maru accepted a peace offer from Te Waharoa which required them to return to Hauraki.¹⁷

Tauranga Maori were struck by further Nga Puhi raids between 1830 and 1833, but for the most part they successfully fought off these attacks. Tauranga Maori received assistance from Ngati Haua under Te Waharoa during the 1831 raid. Their Te Arawa neighbours were also drawn into the conflict. In 1832, Phillip Tapsell, a flax trader based at Maketu whose first wife was Nga Puhi, supported Nga Puhi during their siege of the Tauranga pa Otumoetai.¹⁸ During the final Nga Puhi raid, in 1833, sections of Te Arawa fought on both sides. Ngati Rangiwewehi supported Tauranga Maori in their defence of Maungatapu Pa, but others of Te Arawa fought alongside Nga Puhi against them. The Ngai Te Rangi pa at Te Tumu fell to a combined force of Nga Puhi and Te Arawa.¹⁹

The killing of a Ngati Haua rangatira during a visit to Rotorua at the end of 1835 provided the spark for warfare between his iwi, supported by its Tauranga allies, and Te Arawa. In addition to coming to the aid of Ngati Haua, Tauranga Maori had their own reasons for wanting to attack Te Arawa: they wanted revenge for Te Arawa’s support of Nga Puhi in 1832 and 1833 and they desired to take control of the flax trade in the region. In March 1836, Te Waharoa led a

14. Ron Crosby, The Musket Wars: A History of Inter-Iwi Conflict, 1806–45 (Auckland: Reed Books, 1999)

15. Document 113, pp 2–6

16. Ibid, pp 7–9

17. Ibid, pp 9–10

18. Philip Tapsell was the assumed name of Hans Falk. He is also referred to as Hans Tapsell, Hans Felk, and a variety of other combinations: see ‘Phillip Tapsell’, DNZB, vol 1, p 425.

19. Document 113, pp 9, 11–18