Kūpapa

These included the largest tribe in New Zealand Ngāpuhi, (estimated by demographer Ian Pool to have 40% of all Māori people in 1840) who held a meeting under their chief Tāmati Wāka Nene, in the Hokianga in 1863 to back the government in the war against the Waikato "rebels".

[2] Belich suggests kūpapa involvement in the Battle of Moutoa on May 14, 1864, thwarting a Pai Mārire raid on Whanganui, was motivated by their desire to protect their valuable commercial dealings at the settlement.

[2] Belich claims the British rarely recognised the differing levels of commitment and frequently accused kūpapa of treachery, cowardice, lethargy and incompetence.

He said their lands and resources were intact, they received favourable government attention, including ceremonial swords and monuments for their dead, and were also consulted on some matters of public policy.

However, Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Alexander of the 2/14th Regiment questioned the effectiveness of these Māori allies but later noted:[5] “It is true that they were very useful in detecting ambuscades in procuring and cutting firewood, building wharres [6] [sic] [huts] etc.

; and in this way their presence to the force may be useful but the fighting should be perhaps confined to the white soldiers alone.”[7] Regardless Lieutenant-Colonel’s observation kūpapa were frequently used in combats and they also were notably rapid at adaptation process including dress and customs, moreover, they turned out to be outstanding in tactics[5] and the British had significantly benefited from it not just once.

For instance, when Colonel J. Whitmore included Arawa chiefs in the later stages of the war, they were insisting on payment of four shillings per day for their warriors, the same rate as colonial militia in active service.

Major-General Trevor Chute, known as ‘The Kerry Bull’ by his soldiers, even threatened them with execution during the final Taranaki campaigns, although he never carried out the threat because he needed their support.

[9] The idea hidden behind this word and its usage is clear, and it gave rise to a noun kūpapa which meant ‘a collaborator, ally’ and referred to Māori who sided with Pākehā opposition or the Government.

While speaking before the House of Representatives in June 1869 regarding the retreat from Waihi to Wanganui the preceding year and citing advice from Colonel T. Haultain to align with the pakeha and adopt their methods, he said, “I explained to him that it was customary for Māoris to employ strategy.

[13] Another notable officer-chief, Major Ropata Wahawaha from the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island, also seized the chance to engage in warfare against his tribe’s longstanding adversaries, who aligned with the Māori king.

Stories tell about his extraordinary courage, his preference for using only a walking stick as a weapon, his mastery in unarmed combat against rebels, and his fearless leadership from perilous positions, often ignoring his own safety.