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History
History
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the western North Island contained some of the most densely populated parts of New Zealand, inhabited by iwi such as Ngāti Toa and Tainui.
The Waikato has a prominent history, particularly regarding relationships between Māori and European in early colonial New Zealand.
During the Land Wars of the 1860s, the Waikato was the scene of major bloodshed in what is referred to as the Invasion of the Waikato.
Largely in retaliation for Waikato Māori helping Taranaki Māori protect their land in the earlier Taranaki War, the colonial government — with the help of troops brought from Britain — pushed south from the main settlement of Auckland, fighting several defensive lines organised by the combined iwi of the King Movement.
During 1863 and 1864 fighting occurred at Meremere, Ngaruawahia, Rangiaowhia (southwest of Cambridge) and at Orakau (near Te Awamutu).
Eventually the King Movement's forces pulled back to positions in the area to the south of the Waikato, still known as the King Country.
The Orakau siege was immortalised in one of New Zealand's first motion pictures as Rewi's Last Stand in 1925.
The National Marae, Turangawaewae, is at Ngaruawahia.
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