Story: New Zealand Wars

Thomas Porter with kūpapa

Thomas Porter with kūpapa

Captain Thomas Porter, the tall figure at right, is seen here with a group of Ngāitai kūpapa (Māori fighting alongside colonial troops) in Ōpōtiki in 1871. Porter, who came to New Zealand in the early 1860s, served with Ngāti Porou fighting Te Kooti Arikirangi in 1868 and in 1869 became second-in-command of the Arawa division of the Armed Constabulary. With that force he took part in the final campaign against Ngāti Ruanui rangatira Tītokowaru before joining Ngāti Porou in the pursuit of Te Kooti in 1870 and 1871. The involvement of kūpapa in these conflicts was significant. In the initial Pātea Field Force, which fought Tītokowaru, there were about 150 kūpapa and about 770 Europeans, but the number of Māori involved eventually exceeded 400. Most of these men were from lower Whanganui iwi and led by Keepa te Rangihiwinui (Muaūpoko), known to the British as Major Kemp.

Using this item

Hocken Library, University of Otago
Reference: S12-108b

Permission of the Hocken Library Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Danny Keenan, 'New Zealand Wars - Tītokowaru’s War, 1868–1869', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/36936/thomas-porter-with-kupapa (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Danny Keenan, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 29 Nov 2022