1864: Battle of Moutoa

May 14, 2022

By AHNZ

Today in New Zealand history, 14 May, 1864, the Wanganui War concluded with the Battle of Moutoa which was fought between Pai Marire and Kupapa Maoris. The former were religious cultists, struggling to find meaning in a world torn between their ancient and violent ways and the new Christian ancient and violent ways.

The Hauhau/Pai Marire came up with a hybrid cult led by a mad priest inspired by Arc Angel Gabriel who had learned the secret of repelling bullets via a hand gesture. This proved to be an ineffective battle tactic at Moutoa during their attempted invasion of Whanganui.

The cultists were on their way to invade the Anglo New Zealand Settlers at Wanganui when they were met and opposed in battle by the friendly Maoris. Saved from slaughter, the grateful Settlers later created the Moutoa Gardens and memorial to the 1864 event:

“To the memory of those brave men who fell at Moutoa 14 May 1864 in defense of law and order against fanaticism and barbarism this monument is erected by the Province of Wellington..” – inscription

Were I writing State history we might leave it there but this is Anarchist history. As such, we must ask if the kupapa (to apply the term to include these Maori fighters on the side of the British) were defending people or property? The collectivist mindset of the Maori did not see Westerners as friends or family so much as a human resource. Their human resource.

In that case, defending Wanganui in 1864 was not about fighting barbarism or defending law and order except by coincidence. The local Maori wanted to make sure THEIR pakeha were protected for the same reason a farmer today protects his stock of sheep and cows.

“The lower Wanganui Maoris, however, who were loyal to the British, met and gave battle to the Hauhaus at the small river-island named Moutoa, a few miles north of Wanganui, on 14th May, 1864…By this victory the loyal Maoris saved the white settlement at Wanganui, for had the Hauhaus won this battle, many natives in the south would have joined them, the little town would have been plundered, and many lives lost.” – p245 The Story of New Zealand, Reed (1974)

“Like the Clan Quhele and the Clan Chattan in the classic combat on the Inch of Perth, the Wanganui men fought for the honour of the tribe…the chief issue was whether a hostile warparty should be permitted to force a passage down the river. But they fought also to protect Wanganui Town, and their determined stand won the gratitude of the townspeople and the Government.” –  The New Zealand Wars: A History of the Maori Campaigns and the Pioneering Period, Cowan (1956); NZ Electronic Texts, Victoria University

Against this view, the grateful Wanganui people saw their salvation at the hands of the friendly Maoris a noble stand for law and order. They erected at Moutoa Gardens New Zealand’s first ever war memorial and it was dedicated not to Settlers but to Maoris. The Settlers’ womenfolk also created a silk flag, the Moutoa Flag, and gifted it to their benefactors (ref image right.) The flag has the name Ohoutahi marked under the union jack remembering the successful taking of the Hauhau stronghold by that name earlier in the year.

The victorious Maoris also prized their Moutoa Flag very much. It was still in fine shape in c.1900 when several photos were taken of it with Maoris posing in dress-up. Ref. Maori men standing in front of the Moutoa flag, Alexander Turnbull Library

The 1865 flag appears none the worse for wear flying in 1918 at the reception for the returning Maori Pioneer Battalion. Ref. Crowd at Putiki Pa in Wanganui celebrating the return home of the Pioneer Battalion, Tesla Studios, Alexander Turnbull Library

By 1936 the flag had become worn out. Highly prized, the owners disputed possession for a while and it was in and out of Wanganui’s museum.

“This ensign is still in existence, but is in a dilapidated condition. ” – King Country Chronicle (1936)

“A tattered silk flag of unfamiliar design has been presented to the Alexander Museum, Wanganui, by its Maori owners, states a Wanganui correspondent. It is the historic “Moutoa” flag, which for many years has been in the possession of the Metekingi family at Putiki. The owners have given it to the museum for safe keeping.” – Evening Post (1945)

I have written to the Whanganui Regional Museum asking if they still have this precious item of New Zealand history. Will update the post with their reply when it comes in.

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Image ref. Moutoa Gardens monument, AHNZ Archives (2018)

Image ref. Moutoa Flag, AHNZ reproduction (2022)

Image ref. One of many events that really bugger up the narrative about all Maori resisting Settlers, c.1900 Maoris posing with their flag. Alexander Turnbull Library

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