The Martians have invaded, time to return the favor!

The Martians have invaded, time to return the favor!

Sunday, July 22, 2007

OFF THE BEATEN PATH 1 : MARORI WARS

This is the first in a series of little known or war
gamed colonial battles that I hope you find interesting
and informative.

The New Zealand Wars were generally fought in New Zealand
between 1843 and 1872, though opinion on this time frame
does vary.The 1860s, disputes over questionable land
purchases and the attempts of Marori in the Waikato to
establish what some perceived as a rival British-style
system of royalty led to the New Zealand land wars.
Although these resulted in relatively few deaths, the
colonial government confiscated large tracts of tribal
land as punishment for what they termed as rebellion
(although the Crown had initiated the military action
against its own citizens), in some cases without reference
to whether the tribe involved actually participated in
the warfare. Some tribes actively fought against the Crown,
while others (known as kupapa) fought in support of the
Crown. The British Army pursuit of Hone Heke and Kawati
of Nga Puhi, following their sacking of Kororareka in March,
1845.

North Taranaki War 1860-61:

War broke out in North Taranaki in March 1860. The issue over
which the war commenced was a block of land, called the Pekapeka
Block, now for the most part covered by the township of Waitara
in North Taranaki.

Theopening battle then was fought at Te Kohia, said by James
Belich to be place where New Zealand's `great civil wars of
the 1860s' began.

Further important engagements were fought at Puketekauere,
Mahoetahi, No 3 Redoubt and Te Arei. In the course of this
war, the British Army suffered some setbacks but ultimately
prevailed over Maori. A truce was signed at Te Arei Pa in
1861.

Invasion of the Waikato 1863-64:

The defining war of the New Zealand Wars. Massive British
Army invasion in July 1863 of the Maori King's avowed home
area, the Waikato. Skirmishing at Koheroa and Meremere
followed by a major engagement at Rangiriri. With Rangiriri
taken, the British Army pushed south, ultimately defeating
Waikato and allies at Orakau in 1864. Maori King Tawhiao
fled west, and took refuge amongst Ngati Maniapoto in dense
bush country later known as the `King Country'.

Two of the best manufactures for 15mm Maori warriors are:

The Wildly Inspired Miniatures range includes:

NZ02 Maori with Hatchet
NZ15 Maori with Tupara
NZ16 Maori with Carbine
NZ17 Sub Chief with Mere
NZ18 Sub Chief with Hatchet
NZ21 Maori with Mere
NZ22 Maori with two handed Axe
NZ23 Maori with Musket
NZ24 "Friendly" Maori with Musket (he has a European style
jacket and a bayonet fixed to his musket)
NZ25 Rangatira
NZ26 Rangatira with Spear
NZ29 Rangitira in European Clothes
NZ41 Hone Heke 1845
NZ43 Maori with with hatchet and Shotgun

The Wildly Inspired Miniatures are similar to the old Minfigs
in both size and animation. They are also quite similar in
detail, while not as high as some of the newer lines out there,
they are serviceable and in good variety.


M.Y. Miniatures former Table Top figures

Maori Native New Zealanders.

M01 Command
M02 Warband
M03 Shotguns and muskets
M04 Later Command

The M.Y. Miniatures Maori are sold in packs of 8 foot for
£1.75p per pack. These are quite nicely detailed and very
clean castings. The animation on this line is also quite
good and paint up well with little preparation.

Irregular Miniatures also has a small 15mm Maori collection.
As is customary with Irregular they have several variations of
each figure listed that are supplied randomly.

FZ73 Maori Infantry charging with hand weapon
FZ74 Maori Infantry standing or kneeling with rifle
FZ75 Maori Chief

Again Irregular Miniatures seems (to me at least) to harkens
back to the old Minifigs or Laming style of sculpting its
miniatures, where they were considered innovative was in
offering the variations. The quality control in their
manufacture is not top notch by any means, you may get
deformities in your order so be warned. With that said, they
do mix in with Wildly Inspired Miniatures quite well.

Other Useful Items:
Stronghold Miniatures sells by Village Green in their 15mm
Ships/Boats line ( D9 )Kymer/cham./fantasy boat and (D10)
Kymer cham. Admirals/Chieftains warboat. Both are excellent
little craft and give your Maori something to raid in.

Wildly Inspired Miniatures
*Web Page Down*

M.Y. Miniatures
http://www.geocities.com/mickyarrowminiatures/

Irregular Miniatures
http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/

Stronghold Miniatures
http://www.stronghold-miniatures.co.uk/html/main.html



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