SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Historiography on aboriginal warfare in australia and new Zealand has generally focused on the periods for which there are substantial written records. this has meant most atten- tion is on the period after the arrival of the europeans and has been framed with significant european biases, including the denial of Maori tactical skill and military prowess (Belich 1986). although archaeological and anthropological work has shed some light on precolo- nial aboriginal life and warfare, much of the work of reconstruction of aboriginal (in aus- tralia) and Maori (in new Zealand) warfare relies on interpretation of colonial documents and indigenous oral histories. the wars by which australia and new Zealand became part of the British empire commenced near sydney on the banks of the Hawkesbury river in 1795 and would range across the entire continent of australia and the islands of new Zealand for over 130 years until they were concluded in 1928 with the attacks on aborigines at Coniston station in the deserts of central australia. the British had the advantage of firearms, but it was the mobility of horses that was more important in gaining victory.