1834: See You Later With The Alligator
September 28, 2021
By AHNZ
On 21 September, 1834, the HMS Alligator unleashed a can of wop-ass on Taranaki Maori, Ngati Ruanui. During the recent Waikato invasion and slaughter of the Taranaki Maori some survived by joining with white settler Dicky Barrett and his people. They successfully withstood a siege at Otaka in 1832.
Other refugee Maoris fled to the protection of the Ngati Ruanui who were sheltered by inland forests and slopes. The coastal lands were swept clean by the Waikato invaders who literally ate up the carnage behind them.
“Of those who escaped, numbers led a wretched, hunted life in the dense forests around the base of Mount Egmont, but the greater part made their way through the forest and sought protection among the Ngati-Ruanui people; some even going on and joining their fellow tribesmen already settled round Wai-kanae and Kapiti. Others made their way to Nga-Motu, and eventually helped in the siege of Otaka, whither the great Waikato taua had decided to proceed.” – HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF THE TARANAKI COAST, JPS (1910)
When, in 1834, the Harriet crash-landed into this no-mans land it had become occupied by the Ngati Ruanui who had tentatively emerged from hiding in their forests from the recent genocide. The promising alliance forged between Te Wharepouri and Barrett was no part of their heritage.
Jacky Guard and the other wreck survivors were attacked and plundered, killed, eaten, looted, and enslaved by the Ngati Ruanui.
On September 21st, 1834, the HMS Alligator violently unleashed the first ever action by British troops on New Zealand soil, smashing the Ngati Ruanui and rescuing the survivors. The pa was bombarded, chiefs and tribesmen shot, cultivations and dwellings put to the torch.
“…a most severe punishment inflicted on the said Tribes, by burning their Pa’s – their Property – and Killing and wounding many of them; – and, at the same time, to point out to the other Tribes, that, however much the King of England wishes to cultivate friendship with the New Zealanders, the indignation he will feel at a repetition of such Cruelty to His subjects, and how severely, he will punish the offenders.” – Letter to James Busby from Captain Robert Lambert of the Alligator, Ref. Archives NZ, Flickr
Lucky for the Maoris that Captain Hobson was sent to make a treaty with them in 1840 rather than Captain Lambert! Only in March 1834 the HMS Alligator had been at Waitangi firing a 21 gun salute to the newly picked out Flag of the Independent Tribes of New Zealand. Apparently the Ngati Ruanui didn’t know they were in this new club. By 1840 Lambert was off doing something else, shooting Indians or something with Jane Austin’s younger brother.
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