Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga and Colonialism (1837–1900 CE)

The chapter continues the history of leadership and the power of important places into the colonial era of New Zealand. It demonstrates that increased conflict and the impact of European and American contact led to the development of a regional iwi incorporating all of Hawke’s Bay as a resistance strategy. The return of people to Heretaunga after decades of warfare is discussed as well as the transformations in settlement pattern, population, and leadership. The careers of several leaders are presented showing their remarkable capacity to adapt to colonial New Zealand, including the development of new forms of political spaces. Unfortunately, warfare was not yet completely gone and several battles between tangata whenua and other Māori groups are described. The role of female leaders also changed during the colonial period, with the prejudices and biases of English Victorian culture having a negative impact on traditional mana wahine.