List of massacres in New Zealand

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The following is a list of events that have been called massacres that have occurred in New Zealand (numbers may be approximate). Massacres considered part of the campaigns of the New Zealand Wars are listed separately.

Contents

List

NameDateLocationDeathsMethodNotes
2023 Auckland shooting 20 July 2023Downtown Britomart Terminal, Auckland 3Pump-action shotgunShooter among dead
Christchurch mosque shootings 15 March 2019 Christchurch, Canterbury 51Semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, lever-action rifle, bolt-action rifle51 killed and 40 injured. Occurred at two mosques in Christchurch: Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre. Australian-born perpetrator Brenton Harrison Tarrant pleaded guilty to murder and engaging in a terrorist act, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. [1] [2] [3]
Raurimu massacre 8 February 1997 Raurimu, King Country 6Firearm (sawn off single-barrelled shotgun)Also 4 wounded. Stephen Anderson found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. [4] [5]
New Empire Hotel arson4 February 1995 Hamilton 6FireAlan Wayne Lory convicted of manslaughter. [6]
Bain family murders 20 June 1994 Dunedin 5Firearm (.22lr semi-auto)David Bain convicted, but acquitted in a re-trial.
Ratima family murders 26 June 1992 Masterton 7Hammer, knifeRaymond Wahia Ratima convicted of murder. [7] [8]
Schlaepfer family murders 20 May 1992 Paerata, Auckland Region 7Shooter (Brian Schlaepfer) among dead. [9]
Aramoana massacre 13–14 November 1990 Aramoana, Otago 14Firearm (scoped semi-automatic rifle) [10] 3 (unofficially 4) injuries. Shooter (David Gray) among dead.
Noema Rika murders27 May 1951 Ōtaki, Kāpiti Coast 5Shooter (Rika) among dead [11]
Featherston prisoner of war camp riot25 February 1943 Featherston, Wairarapa 4980 wounded
1941 Kowhitirangi shootings 8–20 October 1941 Kowhitirangi, West Coast 8Shooter (Stanley Graham) among dead
Henare Hona murders21 October 1934 Morrinsville, Waikato 6Shooter (Hona) among dead
Himatangi massacre6 September 1929 Himatangi, Manawatu 8Unsolved shooting and arson, possibly murder/suicide [12]
Waikino schoolhouse shooting 19 October 1923 Waikino, near Waihi 2Firearm (.32-cal pistol), also armed with 3 sticks of gelignite (not used)Also 6 others wounded. Local farmer John Christopher Higgins sought revenge over alleged persecution [13] [14]
Invercargill Tragedy 8 April 1908 Invercargill 7Stove scraper, firearmKiller (James Reid Baxter) among dead
Maungatapu murders 21 February 1866 Maungatapu, Tasman 5Three members of a gang led by Richard Burgess were hanged for the murders
Finnigan family murdersSeptember 1865 Otahuhu, Auckland 4 or 5 [15] Also spelt Finnegan in contemporary sources. James Stack was convicted and hanged in April 1866
Maketū Wharetōtara murders1841 Kororareka, Northland 5 Maketū Wharetōtara, also known as Wiremu Kīngi Maketū, became the first person officially executed in New Zealand (7 March 1842) [16] [17]
Invasion of the Chatham Islands and Moriori genocide November 1835 Chatham Islands 2000Part of the Musket Wars The Moriori genocide was the systematic mass murder, ethnic cleansing, enslavement and cultural annihilation of the Moriori people, the indigenous ethnic group of the Chatham Islands (Rēkohu), by invaders from the mainland New Zealand iwi of Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Mutunga, from November 1835 for a disputed time onward.
Siege of Pukerangiora [18] November 1831 Waitara River, Taranaki 1200Part of the Musket Wars
Boyd massacre December 1809 Whangaroa Harbour, Northland 66
Revenge attacks following death of Marion du Fresne 13 June 1772–July 1772 Bay of Islands, Northland 250
Death of Marion du Fresne 12 June 1772 Bay of Islands, Northland 26

Massacres during the New Zealand Wars

The following is a list of events that have been called massacres that occurred as part of the New Zealand Wars (numbers may be approximate):

NameDateLocationDeathsNotes
Opepe Massacre7 June 1869Taupo9Part of Te Kooti's War
Mohaka massacre 10 April 1869 Mohaka, Hawke's Bay 68Part of Te Kooti's War
Pukearuhe massacre13 February 1869 Pukearuhe, Taranaki 8Attack on Pukearuhe Redoubt by a Ngāti Maniapoto war party
Ngatapa massacre 5 January 1869 Ngatapa, Gisborne 120Part of Te Kooti's War
Poverty Bay massacre 10 November 1868 Poverty Bay, Gisborne 54Part of Te Kooti's War
Rangiaowhia massacre 21 February 1864 Rangiaowhia, Waikato 11Part of the Waikato War
Gilfillan family killings 18 April 1847 Wanganui 4An act of utu (revenge) for the killing of a Māori chieftain during the Wanganui Campaign
Wairau Affray 17 June 1843 Tuamarina, Marlborough 268 wounded

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References

  1. ↑ "Deadly Christchurch mosque shootings: 49 dead after 'well-planned' attack". Radio New Zealand. 15 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Rawlinson, Kevin; Hunt, Elle; Weaver, Matthew; Zhou, Naaman; Lyons, Kate; Martin, Lisa (15 March 2019). "New Zealand shooting: suspect due in court after 49 killed – latest updates". The Guardian.
  3. ↑ "Police with the latest information on the mosque shootings". Radio New Zealand. 17 March 2019.
  4. ↑ Leask, Anna (3 February 2017). "Raurimu 20 years on: the madman, the massacre and the memories". The New Zealand Herald.
  5. ↑ "crime.co.nz". crime.co.nz. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "Killer out for Christmas". Stuff (company) . 20 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  7. ↑ "Four more years for mass murderer Raymond Ratima". Stuff (company) . 11 October 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  8. ↑ Moorhouse, Emily (31 October 2023). "Masterton mass murderer Raymond Ratima takes Parole Board to court, claims potential bias as repeatedly denied release - NZ Herald". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "Day of slaughter on family farm". The New Zealand Herald. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "David Gray kills 13 at Aramoana, 13 September 1990," New Zealand History,
  11. ↑ "The Otaki murders - 27 May 1951 - 5 people killed". 10 December 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ↑ McKinnon, Malcolm. "Himatangi murders". Te Ara. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  13. ↑ "Revisiting a dark day: A mass school shooting in New Zealand". Stuff (company) . 28 December 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "Murder in a small Kiwi school". Stuff (company) . 23 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  15. ↑ "Welcome to crime.co". crime.co.nz. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  16. ↑ "An early tragedy", Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand , 22 April 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  17. ↑ Oliver, S. "Maketu Wiremu Kingi", Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand , 30 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  18. ↑ Smith, Percy S. "Fall of Puke-Rangiora Pa, 1831 (Second siege)". NZETC.
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