November 5 1881 the invasion of Parihaka

Government troops at Parihaka, November 5 , 1881.

On November 5, 1881, 1600 Armed Constabulary and volunteers marched

on Parihaka. The troops were led by Native Minister, John Bryce. Bryce was a Wanganui farmer who had fought in a campaign against another Maori chief Titokowaru and saw Parihaka as “a headquarters of fanaticism and disaffection.”

The people of Parihaka knew that the troops were coming and sat patiently on the marae awaiting their arrival. Groups of children sang welcome songs to the approaching soldiers.

Bryce ordered the arrest of the leaders of Parihaka, the destruction of the village and the dispersal of the people who remained.  

The press (media) were banned from accompanying the troops and reporting on the attack on Parihaka, but most settlers approved of it. The Government managed to delay the publication of the official documents relating to the events for several years.

Te Whiti and Tohu were arrested and detained without trial for the next 16 months.

Source: NZ History, New Zealand history online.