Strategic Aims and Objectives in Hone Heke’s War

The protagonists in the New Zealand Wars had differing strategic aims and objectives. I’ve summarised those from Hone Heke’s War of 1845-46. The three protagonist groups in this war were the Government, the resisting Maori and the collaborating Maori. Maori on both sides of the conflict were from the Ngapuhi tribe and this had an impact on their conduct of the war.

European Government and its military commanders

Aims

  • Impose substantive sovereignty of the of British crown.

Objectives

  • Kill or capture leaders of resisting Ngapuhi (Heke, Kawiti).
  • Destroy their forces.
  • Protect settlers and their property.

Resisting Ngapuhi (Hone Heke, Kawiti)

Aims

  • Uphold chiefly authority against arbitrary British interference, thus oppose British sovereignty.
  • Profitable interaction with Europeans.

Objectives

  • Oppose British sovereignty by cutting down the flagpole at Kororareka.
  • Defeat British armed forces.
  • Protect Ngapuhi (resisting and collaborating) and their property.
  • Protect settlers and their property.
  • Increase wealth by looting abandoned property.

Collaborating Ngapuhi (Tamati Waka Nene)

Aims

  • Uphold chiefly authority against arbitrary British interference, to allow …
  • Profitable interaction with Europeans.
  • Discredit Hone Heke.

Objectives

  • Persuade resisting Ngapuhi to cease hostilities.
  • Reduce influence of Hone Heke.
  • Protect Ngapuhi (resisting and collaborating) and their property.
  • Protect settlers and their property.

The aims of the two factions of the Ngapuhi differed in emphasis more than in fundamental attitude.

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