| Synopsis: |
The New Zealand wars began in 1845 and went on for nearly 30 years. They have been called by many names. Some call them the Maori Wars, the Land Wars and the Colonial Wars. But most they are called the New Zealand Wars, which is probably the simplest and best term. There was no single war. The first fighting occurred in the Bay of Islands in 1845?47. There was another war in Wellington and the Hutt Valley in 1847-48. Before this campaign was finished, fighting had ripped through Taranaki, the Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, the Urewera, parts of Hawke's Bay and the Central Plateau. Matthew Wright explains the origins of the wars in each area, and has investigated the people who fought them, how the wars were fought, what the battle sites look like today, the conditions Maori and Pakeha faced during the wars and the different maneuvers employed. He explores the political, social and emotional motivations that led to these disagreements. Historical and contemporary imagery of battle sites is included, as well as maps and illustrations to help children learn about this important era of Aotearoa/New Zealand's history. |