Twenty-two European settlers and four Māori killed in the Wairau Affray at Tuamarina, near the Wairau River, in Marlborough, marking the start of the New Zealand Wars.

In the mid-1800s, tensions were high in New Zealand between European settlers and the Māori people. The Wairau Affray at Tuamarina, near the Wairau River in Marlborough, escalated the growing unrest. It was sparked by a land dispute between the New Zealand Company, representing settlers, and Ngāti Toa, a local Māori tribe. The New Zealand Company had purchased land in the area, but there was a misunderstanding regarding the boundaries. When surveyors arrived to measure the land, conflict erupted as the Māori people felt their rights were being disregarded. Attempts at negotiation failed, leading to a violent encounter at Tuamarina. The Wairau Affray resulted in the deaths of twenty-two European settlers and four Māori, making it one of the deadliest clashes during this period. The event marked the beginning of the New Zealand Wars, a series of conflicts between Māori and the British Crown over land, sovereignty, and cultural differences. The repercussions of the Wairau Affray reverberated throughout New Zealand, deepening mistrust and animosity between the two groups. The Wairau Affray serves as a reminder of the complex history of colonization in New Zealand, highlighting the clash of cultures and competing interests that defined this era. It also underscores the importance of understanding and addressing past grievances to work towards reconciliation and healing in present times. #WairauAffray #NewZealandWars #Colonization #LandDispute #HistoryLesson