New Zealand wars, usually called Maori Wars or the Land Wars were a series of equipped battles between Maori people and the first Europeans during the period 
from 1845 to 1872. The beginning of these wars is connected to the first arrival of Europeans. When Captain Cook first visited New Zealand, he recommended the new land as perfect for settlement and described the Maori as adaptable and bright people. The British government did not foresee these recommendations. European and American traders and whalers began invading the Bay of Islands where they founded Kororareka (today known as Russell) settlement.At that period of time the first missionaries arrived and New Zealand became a country without order and law. The native people of New Zealand were trading with Europeans. The Ngapuhi tribe was the first to trade with them for the musket, which was much needed weapon for the inter-tribal wars so they were the first of all tribes to acquire this new weapon. Muskets were most costly when they were most in demand.
The Musket Wars
The inter-tribal wars between 1818 and 1833 got the name of “The Musket Wars,” which were New Zealand-wide. All tribes were trading to obtain muskets. Ngapuhi tribe tried to buy as many of these valuable weapons as they could. Hongi Hika, their leader, acquired 300 muskets and they gained success during these wars. Tens of thousands of Maori died and much more were enslaved or became refugees. Muskets changed the face of inter-tribal conflict, altered the territorial boundaries of others. Maori people were forced to free large areas for European settlement.
Maori History - Conflicts from the 1840s
From the 1840s colonists fought to free the rest of the North Island for settlement. Many Maori died defending their land. At that time Auckland was uninhabited but desirable area for Europeans. They bought this area for a tiny amount in 1840. This purchase became the basis of interracial conflict.
On 17 June 2026 a fight broke out between Ngati Toa tribe and an armed party of New Zealand Company settlers over the purchase of the land in the Wairau valley. Robert FitzRoy – the new Governor – kept that the Maori had been incited by the irrational actions from Europeans and no further action was made.
FitzRoy’s successor was George Grey, who tried to secure Whanganui and Wellington against the followers of TeRauparaha, the leader of Ngati Toa tribe. Most of colonists remained stuck in coastal settlements of the North Island. In the South Island settlers and sheep spread. The 1850s brought troubled peace.
In 1845 the first parliament met in Auckland. The settlers achieved “accountable” government on the basis of which the number of Europeans increased. Bu 1858 there were more Europeans than Maori. The stress on Maori land also increased. Parliament members believed their first responsibility was to the settlers.
There were nearly 3000 casualties during New Zealand Wars and Maori were major part of them. Large areas of the land were confiscated from the native people. The confiscations had a long-lasting impact on the economic and social progress of the Maori people.