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The immediate cause of the war was the continuing confiscation of Maori land by the Government. The campaigns of McDonnell and Chute that ended the Second Taranaki War were followed by the punitive confiscation of tribal land during 1865 and 1866. Once this was apparently completed and recognizing the apparent futility of further resistance the Maori tribes were inclined to accept the situation. Titokowaru, the chief of the Ngati Ruanui hapu or sub-tribe, declared 1867 to be a year of peace and reconciliation and this was largely successful.
However early in 1868 the Government began to confiscate even more tribal land to such an extent that the economic survival of the tribes was seriously threatened. Negotiation, passive resistance and threats proved unavailing, more and more settlers were occupying the confiscated Maori land. Finally, on 9 June 1868, warriors from the Ngati Ruanui killed three of the settlers. This was the beginning of Titokowaru’s War.
From the outset it was a faint hope. Titokowaru was not supported by the other Maori of the area and mustered only eighty fighters from his own hapu. He was opposed by the Patea Field Force, nearly eight hundred armed militia of mixed quality but also including units like Von Tempsky's Forest Rangers. who were very experienced and competent. He was also opposed by numerous kupapa or Maori fighting on the government side. Again their commitment to the conflict was sometimes dubious but they were quickly joined by Kepa Rangihiwinui , Major Kepa, and his Wanganui fighters, a truly formidable enemy. Furthermore the commander of the Government forces, McDonnell was the same man who had defeated the Southern Taranaki tribes in 1866 using the search and destroy technique, then called bush scouring.
However Titokowaru’s main base was a formidable Pa or fortress, Te Ngutu O Te Manu surrounded by dense bush. The Government troops were equally well placed but a static war was never an option for them, they had to protect the settlers. By a clever campaign of incitement and provocation Titokowaru created a situation where McDonnell had no choice but to attack the Pa.
See also: Maori Wars
The first two expeditions against Titokowaru’s position were unsuccessful. Bad weather drove the first one back and the second, an unexpectedly fierce counterattack by the Maori.
The third expedition left Camp Waihi on 7 September, 1868. Mc Donnell was leading three very experiences units of the Patea Field Force, 360 men altogether including Kepa and the Wanganui Maori and Von Tempsky and the Forest Rangers. They had hoped to surprise the enemy but went astray in the thick bush and approached Te Ngutu o Te Manu unexpectedly from the north and disturbed some of the defenders who raised the alarm.
Pressing on as fast as possible they entered the clearing that approached the Pa and saw the defences which did not look too formidable. McDonnell sent Kepa and the kupapa to circle around and attack the Pa from the east while he ordered the Pakeha militia to make an immediate frontal attack.
However Titokowaru had kept very few of his warriors inside the Pa, most of them were waiting in the bush that surrounded the Te Ngutu clearing. As soon as the government troops entered the clearing they came under heavy and accurate fire from all directions and the momentum was lost as the men took cover. Two attempts were made to resume the attack and both produced serious casualties including Von Tempsky himself, shot dead.
The situation was lost well before Kepa had any chance of getting into position to attack. McDonnell wisely ordered an immediate retreat; The Maori pursued them sniping from cover all the way but they did not risk an attack; the militia still outnumbered them many times over.
The Colonists lost over fifty men, dead and wounded. It was a shattering defeat of the same magnitude Puketakuere during the First Taranaki WarThe Taranaki War is a conflict that took place between Maori and Pakeha in New Zealand from March 1860 to March 1861. Taranaki Province is a large peninsula on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, equidistant between Wellington and Auckland., indeed the nature of the engagement was very similar. Titokowaru lost only three men in the whole engagement.
The aftermath of the defeat was even more disastrous as it led to the almost complete disintegration of the Government forces. Hundreds deserted or refused to re-enlist when their term was up. Many of the Maori allies packed up and went home saying that Titokowaru’s mana was now stronger than the government’s
The Forest Rangers mutinied and refused to serve under any leader afterVon Tempsky. He had been a charismatic leader who created an huge personality cult within his force, without him they were useless and had to be disbanded. It has been suggested that Von Tempsky died unnecessarily. Another officer within the militia had recently been awarded the Victoria CrossThe Victoria Cross (official post-nominal letters "VC") is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. Historical Background The, this made Von Tempsky extremely jealous and he was determined to win one for himself, leading him to take foolish risks. This may or may not be true but the story was current at the time and illustrates how Von Tempsky’s contemporaries viewed him.
The Patea Field Force was reduced to about a quarter of its original strength. McDonnell was replaced by Colonel Whitmore, possibly a more effective soldier although every historian who mentions him describes him as a most unpleasant person. Inevitably the Government forces had to retreat towards Wanganui and the Maori triumphantly reoccupied the territory they vacated. Other than that they did little to exploit their position which gave the military commanders time to rebuild their forces. Whitmore eventually had an army of about nine hundred men although about two thirds of them could only be relied upon for defensive duties.
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