Chapter 3 - Waikato and Taranaki

The 18th and the 65th regiments were summoned to the aid of the Forest Rifle volunteers under Sergeant Perry at Pukekohe which led to a series of engagements along the Great South Road between Drury, Papakura and Pukekohe.

Muster lists were detailed records maintained by each regiment to track vital information about soldiers. These lists served multiple purposes, including verifying personnel, monitoring promotions, and maintaining accountability. They documented a soldier's rank, pay, any forfeits or fines, and occasionally additional details like absences, illnesses, or disciplinary actions. Muster lists were also used to allocate provisions and ensure that soldiers received appropriate wages and supplies. For historians and researchers, these documents provide an invaluable insight into the structure and daily operations of military life during that period. Muster lists were recorded in 3 month increments. 

The muster lists between 01 April 1863 and 31 March 1864 show that Robert was promoted to the rank of a Corporal on the 1st September 1863.

On 31st March 1864, the 18th Royal Irish Regiment and the Forest Rangers led the first attack in the battle of Ōrākau under Captain Ring, fighting approximately 300 Māori, a third of which were women. Led by Rewi Maniapoto, the Ōrākau defenders comprised of people from Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Maniapoto, and smaller groups from Waikato and the East Coast. With supplies dwindling, the imperial forces appealed to the Waikato defenders for surrender, and popular belief holds that Rewi Maniapoto cried, ‘Ka whawhai tonu matou, ake ake ake!’, a statement since memorialized in subsequent Māori resistance movements addressing the struggle for land rights. The battle of Ōrākau ceased when the Colonial Defence Force and the Royal Artillery attacked, inflicting the greatest number of casualties. Those who survived made their escape south of the Puniu river. The Waikato Māori and their allies suffered 80 fatalities, whereas the British lost 17 with another 51 wounded.

It seems that Robert may have had issues with his rank as Corporal because he is put in confinement on the 24th June 1864. He is tried and temporarily reduced to the rank of a Private but by the 1st July 1865 he has resumed the rank of a Corporal again. A few months later he is once again put in confinement on the 24th October 1864. This time he is tried and permanently reduced to the rank of a Private.

By the end of 1864, Grey had carried out his objective in the Waikato, with the Crown confiscating over a million acres of land. However, he failed to remove the Kīngitanga or end the Māori resistance. Grey vowed not to engage further in the Waikato and shifted his focus toward Taranaki, a region still grappling with the aftermath of the First Taranaki War (1860-1861).

In Taranaki, tensions remained high as confiscated lands were redistributed to settlers, displacing Māori communities and exacerbating hostilities. The Second Taranaki War (1863-1866) further entrenched resistance from iwi such as Ngāti Ruanui and Ngāti Awa. British forces and settler militias faced constant ambushes and guerrilla tactics as Māori utilized their intimate knowledge of the terrain to resist incursions. Governor Grey aimed to assert control over the region by employing scorched-earth strategies, destroying villages and food supplies, and constructing redoubts to solidify colonial authority. Taranaki became a focal point of the British military’s efforts, highlighting the ongoing struggle for sovereignty and land that defined the New Zealand Wars.

In January 1865, the 18th Royal Irish Regiment were dispatched to Taranaki where they were tasked with advancing through Māori-held territory near Nukumaru, a key site on the route from Whanganui to New Plymouth. The Māori defenders from Ngāti Rauru and Ngāti Ruanui employed guerrilla tactics and utilized the rugged terrain to resist the British incursion, launching ambushes and using fortified positions to inflict casualties. In the Jan to March 1865 muster lists it is recorded that Robert has resumed his previous role as a bugler with the Regiment band.

Despite facing fierce resistance, the British forces, including the 18th Royal Irish secured the area after suffering losses. Māori forces avoided open-field confrontations, where British artillery and superior numbers could dominate. Instead, they engaged in small, fast-moving attacks, striking at vulnerable points in the British lines and retreating before counterattacks could be organized. These hit-and-run tactics frustrated the British, forcing them to expend significant resources on defensive manoeuvres and patrols. The battle highlighted the effectiveness of Māori resistance and the harsh challenges faced by British troops in the New Zealand Wars.

In July 1865, the Siege of Weraroa Pā in Taranaki marked a key event in the New Zealand Wars under the leadership of Grey. Weraroa Pā, a strongly fortified Māori position held by Ngāti Ruanui, was a strategic site in the resistance against British land confiscations. Governor Grey personally directed the campaign, employing a strategy of encirclement and psychological pressure to avoid a costly frontal assault. Māori defenders eventually abandoned the pā without a major battle, a decision influenced by Grey’s ability to cut off their supplies and reinforcements. Although Weraroa was celebrated at the time, its capture had limited long-term military impact. Māori forces shifted to more mobile forms of resistance, avoiding large, fortified positions that could be encircled and cut off. The event demonstrated Governor Grey’s preference for strategic manoeuvring over direct engagement but failed to resolve the broader tensions over land and sovereignty that fuelled the conflict. Despite suffering losses in battles such as Nukumaru and the eventual abandonment of Weraroa Pa, Taranaki iwi continued to resist. Their resilience was evident in their ability to regroup and adapt.

In November 1866, the 18th Royal Irish Regiment played a key role in the establishment of a redoubt at Turuturumokai, a strategic site in Taranaki, as part of British efforts to consolidate control over the region. This fortification served as a base for advancing military operations and as a defensive position during the ongoing conflict with Māori resistance. Shortly after, the regiment participated in General Chute’s march into Taranaki, a punitive expedition aimed at subduing Māori forces and asserting colonial dominance. The campaign involved rigorous movements through challenging terrain and the destruction of Māori settlements and resources, underscoring the intensity and harsh tactics of the British during this period. The actions of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment reinforced the British military’s presence in Taranaki but deepened the tensions and suffering caused by land confiscations and armed conflict.

By 1867, economic pressures and the high cost of maintaining troops on the other side of the world led Britain to reduce its commitment, while political strategies aimed to encourage colonies like New Zealand to manage their own defence. Major withdrawal of British troops from New Zealand begun marking a significant turning point in the New Zealand Wars, signalling the end of direct British military involvement. Responsibility for military operations was progressively being shifted to the New Zealand colonial government, which relied on newly formed local forces like the Armed Constabulary and allied Māori units. As a results of this shift, as of the 12th October Robert is listed as a non-engaged private.

Most British regiments depart, leaving behind only a few to help with the transition, including the 18th Royal Irish. The 18th Royal Irish Regiment remained mainly in Whanganui until November 1867 when two companies were sent to New Plymouth and two to Napier, while the remainder including Robert Kirkby, returned to Auckland.

In the muster lists between 1st April 1868 and 30th June 1868, Robert is re-engaged for active service and joins the 18th Regiment Band under Bandmaster Quinn.