The Dog Tax Conflict 1898

Māori in Hokianga, Northland objected to paying a tax for their dogs, which led to an armed standoff in Rawene. No lives were lost. SCIS no. 1966346 

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Images
View of Rawene, 1918.
View of Rawene, 1918.
View of Rawene, looking back at a wharf, a street going up a hill, with A S Andrewes & Sons general store in the centre. There is a large house on the waterfront on the right. Photograph taken by A...
Images
Dog Tax
Dog Tax
Poster for a Dog Tax imposed by the Hokianga County Council in the 1890s. Text: "Dog Tax. Hokianga County. The undersigned having been appointed registrar of dogs for the Hokianga County, doth here...
Newspapers
THE MAORIS AND THE DOG TAX. (Auckland Star, 14 April 1892)
Articles
Hōne Heke Ngāpua
Hōne Heke Ngāpua was elected to Parliament in 1893 and represented the people of Northern Māori almost continuously until his death in 1909.
Images
Dog tax protest
Dog tax protest
In this cartoon from May 1898 a Māori man lets Premier Richard Seddon know what he thinks about the dog tax. Councils were able to impose a tax on dogs, which was often resented by Māori. In 1898 a...
Images
Group of militia at Rawene, Hokianga, during the Dog Tax Rebellion
Group of militia at Rawene, Hokianga, during the Dog Tax War
In May 1898 Hone Toia made it clear that his people would resist paying the dog tax (and other taxes.) He also stated they would march in protest to Rawene with guns. The Government took this respo...
Other
Tōia, Hōne Riiwi
Tōia, Hōne Riiwi
Newspapers
THE DOG TAX. (Marlborough Express, 23 February 1893)
Newspapers
THE DOG TAX TROUBLE. (Grey River Argus, 11 May 1898)
Archives
24. Dog Registration Act 1880
1880 > Public Acts > 24. Dog Registration Act 1880
Archives
4 Dog Registration Act Amendment Act 1895
1895 > Public Acts > 4 Dog Registration Act Amendment Act 1895
Newspapers
THE DOG REGISTRATION ACT. (West Coast Times, 17 December 1880)
Books
The Dog and Other Animals - The Maori Race
The dog occupies no unimportant part in Maori legend, and it doubtless had a considerable part to play in the economy of domestic life. It is evident that in the course of time its nature and breed...
Newspapers
TROUBLE SATISFACTORILY SETTLED. (Marlborough Express, 07 May 1898)
Newspapers
PROCESS AND DOG TAX. (Mataura Ensign 23-5-1911)
PROCESS AND DOG TAX. (Mataura Ensign 23-5-1911)
Newspapers
TAX ON DOGS. (Clutha Leader 20-12-1912)
TAX ON DOGS. (Clutha Leader 20-12-1912)
Newspapers
AN INDIGNANT PROTEST (Wanganui Chronicle, 24 November 1904)
Images
Nordenfeldt gun at Rawene
Nordenfeldt gun at Rawene
One of two Nordenfeldt guns at Rawene during the so-called 'Dog Tax War'. A soldier explains the workings to photographer William Gordon-Jones? And his wife?
Images
Soldiers in Rawene, 1898
Soldiers in Rawene, 1898
Soldiers hauling artillery up the main street in Rawene during the so-called 'Dog Tax War'. Postmaster Thomas Lumsden Millar and his wife Marion Millar (nee Clendon) can be seen to the left of the ...
Newspapers
NATIVES STILL TURBULENT. (Marlborough Express, 05 May 1898)
Articles
The Rawene trouble
Periodical trouble is met with in the collection of the dog tax from the Maoris in certain parts of the King Country, but this year the attitude of the natives has been of a serious and threatening...
Websites
WWW
Index New Zealand (INNZ)
Find articles from a range of magazines, journals and newspapers related to New Zealand and the South Pacific. Some articles will need to be requested. Please refer to the ‘help page’ for details.
Articles
Kurī – Polynesian dogs
A vital source of protein and fur, the sturdy kurī was also a favoured pet of Māori chiefs.
Articles
Northland photographer's historic images to go on display
An exhibition of historic images associated with the 1890s rebellion in the Hokianga district.
Articles
The Dog Tax War
The last gasp of the 19th century wars between Māori and local and national authorities.
Articles
Rawene – the focal point of the dog tax conflict
A brief history covering the strong objection by Māori to dog taxes imposed by the Hokianga County Council.
Images
Dog Tax mural at Rawene
A mural painted in memory of the historic Dog Tax War of 1898.
Articles
Rules vs laws
Use these activities to discover the difference and similarities between rules and laws, how they are implemented, and how they could be changed.
Articles
Harawira: Dog Control Amendment Bill
Hone Harawira recalls the Dog Registration Act and Dog Tax War in opposition to the bill to microchip dogs in 2006.
Articles
Dog Tax War, a brief history
A short history of the 1898 Dog Tax War.
Websites
WWW
EPIC
Find more information on this topic on EPIC. Databases recommended: New Zealand History Collection : ‘Tangata Whenua: A History’ : The quest for survival 1890-1920 and also Australia & New Zea...
Articles
An industrious little spot where dog tax sparked 'war'
Rawene in Hokianga was the centre of a stand-off in 1898 between Māori and the European settlers. Find this article from the Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre Plus available through EPIC. Sch...
Articles
Te Kurī Māori (the dog of New Zealand
Taylor White discusses the genealogy of the te kurī Māori.
Images
Skull of kuri (native dog) found at Roha-a-te-kawau island pa, Horowhenua district.
Skull of a kurī (native dog)
This is the skull of a kurī found at Roha-a-te-Kawau island pa. Kurī was a type of dog brought to New Zealand by the Polynesian ancestors of Māori. The dogs had a strong cultural attachment to Māor...
Videos
Exhibition on the Dog Tax War
Report on and exhibition at Auckland Central Library on this little-known Northland rebellion.
Articles
New Zealand Wars
This page from Many Answers will guide you to reviewed websites and databases on the New Zealand Wars.
Articles
Dog Tax War, a brief history
A short history of the 1898 Dog Tax War.
Images
View of Rawene showing dirt road and houses with picket fences
View of Rawene showing dirt road and houses with picket fences
Photographer unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative
Articles
The Hokianga dog tax uprising
The Dog Registration Act implemented by the New Zealand Government in 1880 was a response to increasing tensions between Pākehā farmers and Māori communities throughout the colony.
Images
Policemen with a group of Maori who participated in the Dog Tax Rebellion
Policemen with a group of Maori who participated in the Dog Tax Rebellion
Five members of the Ngapuhi resistance to the imposition of the dog tax, often known as the Dog Tax War, with eight policemen, taken May 1898 by Charles Dawes at Waima, Hokianga, when the protester...
Images
The troops at drill, the native trouble in the North
The troops at drill, the native trouble in the North
Soldiers being drilled in a fenced area in front of a school during the period of the Dog Tax Rebellion. Men stand or squat with their weapons in front of them.
Images
View of Rawene, 1918.
View of Rawene, 1918.
View of Rawene, looking back at a wharf, a street going up a hill, with A S Andrewes & Sons general store in the centre. There is a large house on the waterfront on the right. Photograph taken by A...
Images
Dog Tax
Dog Tax
Poster for a Dog Tax imposed by the Hokianga County Council in the 1890s. Text: "Dog Tax. Hokianga County. The undersigned having been appointed registrar of dogs for the Hokianga County, doth here...
Newspapers
THE MAORIS AND THE DOG TAX. (Auckland Star, 14 April 1892)
Articles
Hōne Heke Ngāpua
Hōne Heke Ngāpua was elected to Parliament in 1893 and represented the people of Northern Māori almost continuously until his death in 1909.
Images
Dog tax protest
Dog tax protest
In this cartoon from May 1898 a Māori man lets Premier Richard Seddon know what he thinks about the dog tax. Councils were able to impose a tax on dogs, which was often resented by Māori. In 1898 a...
Images
Group of militia at Rawene, Hokianga, during the Dog Tax Rebellion
Group of militia at Rawene, Hokianga, during the Dog Tax War
In May 1898 Hone Toia made it clear that his people would resist paying the dog tax (and other taxes.) He also stated they would march in protest to Rawene with guns. The Government took this respo...
Other
Tōia, Hōne Riiwi
Tōia, Hōne Riiwi
Newspapers
THE DOG TAX. (Marlborough Express, 23 February 1893)
Newspapers
THE DOG TAX TROUBLE. (Grey River Argus, 11 May 1898)
Archives
24. Dog Registration Act 1880
1880 > Public Acts > 24. Dog Registration Act 1880
Archives
4 Dog Registration Act Amendment Act 1895
1895 > Public Acts > 4 Dog Registration Act Amendment Act 1895
Newspapers
THE DOG REGISTRATION ACT. (West Coast Times, 17 December 1880)
Books
The Dog and Other Animals - The Maori Race
The dog occupies no unimportant part in Maori legend, and it doubtless had a considerable part to play in the economy of domestic life. It is evident that in the course of time its nature and breed...
Newspapers
TROUBLE SATISFACTORILY SETTLED. (Marlborough Express, 07 May 1898)
Newspapers
PROCESS AND DOG TAX. (Mataura Ensign 23-5-1911)
PROCESS AND DOG TAX. (Mataura Ensign 23-5-1911)
Newspapers
TAX ON DOGS. (Clutha Leader 20-12-1912)
TAX ON DOGS. (Clutha Leader 20-12-1912)
Newspapers
AN INDIGNANT PROTEST (Wanganui Chronicle, 24 November 1904)
Images
Nordenfeldt gun at Rawene
Nordenfeldt gun at Rawene
One of two Nordenfeldt guns at Rawene during the so-called 'Dog Tax War'. A soldier explains the workings to photographer William Gordon-Jones? And his wife?
Images
Soldiers in Rawene, 1898
Soldiers in Rawene, 1898
Soldiers hauling artillery up the main street in Rawene during the so-called 'Dog Tax War'. Postmaster Thomas Lumsden Millar and his wife Marion Millar (nee Clendon) can be seen to the left of the ...
Newspapers
NATIVES STILL TURBULENT. (Marlborough Express, 05 May 1898)
Articles
The Rawene trouble
Periodical trouble is met with in the collection of the dog tax from the Maoris in certain parts of the King Country, but this year the attitude of the natives has been of a serious and threatening...
Websites
WWW
Index New Zealand (INNZ)
Find articles from a range of magazines, journals and newspapers related to New Zealand and the South Pacific. Some articles will need to be requested. Please refer to the ‘help page’ for details.
Articles
Kurī – Polynesian dogs
A vital source of protein and fur, the sturdy kurī was also a favoured pet of Māori chiefs.
Articles
Northland photographer's historic images to go on display
An exhibition of historic images associated with the 1890s rebellion in the Hokianga district.
Articles
The Dog Tax War
The last gasp of the 19th century wars between Māori and local and national authorities.
Articles
Rawene – the focal point of the dog tax conflict
A brief history covering the strong objection by Māori to dog taxes imposed by the Hokianga County Council.
Images
Dog Tax mural at Rawene
A mural painted in memory of the historic Dog Tax War of 1898.
Articles
Rules vs laws
Use these activities to discover the difference and similarities between rules and laws, how they are implemented, and how they could be changed.
Articles
Harawira: Dog Control Amendment Bill
Hone Harawira recalls the Dog Registration Act and Dog Tax War in opposition to the bill to microchip dogs in 2006.
Articles
Dog Tax War, a brief history
A short history of the 1898 Dog Tax War.
Websites
WWW
EPIC
Find more information on this topic on EPIC. Databases recommended: New Zealand History Collection : ‘Tangata Whenua: A History’ : The quest for survival 1890-1920 and also Australia & New Zea...
Articles
An industrious little spot where dog tax sparked 'war'
Rawene in Hokianga was the centre of a stand-off in 1898 between Māori and the European settlers. Find this article from the Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre Plus available through EPIC. Sch...
Articles
Te Kurī Māori (the dog of New Zealand
Taylor White discusses the genealogy of the te kurī Māori.
Images
Skull of kuri (native dog) found at Roha-a-te-kawau island pa, Horowhenua district.
Skull of a kurī (native dog)
This is the skull of a kurī found at Roha-a-te-Kawau island pa. Kurī was a type of dog brought to New Zealand by the Polynesian ancestors of Māori. The dogs had a strong cultural attachment to Māor...
Videos
Exhibition on the Dog Tax War
Report on and exhibition at Auckland Central Library on this little-known Northland rebellion.
Articles
New Zealand Wars
This page from Many Answers will guide you to reviewed websites and databases on the New Zealand Wars.
Articles
Dog Tax War, a brief history
A short history of the 1898 Dog Tax War.
Images
View of Rawene showing dirt road and houses with picket fences
View of Rawene showing dirt road and houses with picket fences
Photographer unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative
Articles
The Hokianga dog tax uprising
The Dog Registration Act implemented by the New Zealand Government in 1880 was a response to increasing tensions between Pākehā farmers and Māori communities throughout the colony.
Images
Policemen with a group of Maori who participated in the Dog Tax Rebellion
Policemen with a group of Maori who participated in the Dog Tax Rebellion
Five members of the Ngapuhi resistance to the imposition of the dog tax, often known as the Dog Tax War, with eight policemen, taken May 1898 by Charles Dawes at Waima, Hokianga, when the protester...
Images
The troops at drill, the native trouble in the North
The troops at drill, the native trouble in the North
Soldiers being drilled in a fenced area in front of a school during the period of the Dog Tax Rebellion. Men stand or squat with their weapons in front of them.

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The Dog Tax Conflict 1898
The Dog Tax Conflict 1898

Māori in Hokianga, Northland objected to paying a tax for their dogs, which led to an armed standoff in Rawene. No...

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