This recent title from Osprey looks at a long series of conflicts that many may recall as being called the Maori Wars. However, it is much more than that and since the old title incorrectly implies that this was all the fault of the Maoris, it should be more broadly titled; hence the New Zealand wars.

Those not familiar with the Maoris need to realize that they hold a lot on retribution to wrongs. It is not uncommon for revenge killings to go on for a very long time as one family takes revenge for one killing after another. It is the sort of thing that one sees in some Southern European countries. It even expands to tribes or groups of people who may have had nothing at all to do with the original offense. So when the Europeans came into New Zealand, they found it very difficult to keep out of these sorts of conflicts.

However, the Europeans brought with them things that were not part of the Maori tradition. Metal items for one thing as the Maoris had been relying on bone and wood and stone for their lifestyle. The Europeans also brought with them the musket, which totally changed the way the Maoris fought and built their fortressed towns. Now, combatants could kill each other from a distance and hand to hand fighting was becoming obsolete.

So it became a situation where those who had the guns were pretty well taking over those who did not. Then it was those who had more guns took over from those who had fewer. In between all this, the British got involved or got in the way so there were many different battles between Maori and settler. This eventually brought in the British Army and local militia. The fighting went on for over 50 years before things finally settled down.

The Men at Arms series is as much a book on weapons and uniforms as it is on a historical background. This one is no exception and has not only some superb period photos of those involved, but some excellent full color art work showing the weapons and the dress of these folks. It makes for a most interesting book for those who know little to nothing about the period and place. A book I very much enjoyed reading and I know you will as well.

April 2013

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